Monday, November 18, 2013

Make it inclusive, practical and mutisectorial- Thought for international toilet day

Proper use of toilet is still secondary on many parts of the country. In some of the part construction of toilet is taken as the burden to their economy status even that is affordable and in some places people do not afford to make it. In many stances, the constructed toilets are not disability inclusive due to the accessibility issue. Salute to ODF campaigning for promoting the use of toilets and make an area free of open defecation Zone (ODF) in many parts of country. According to the national census, about 1.94% of people in Nepal are with different type of disability which is more than 5,13,321. It’s very important to ensure that these many populations have proper access to toilet as UNCRPD also obligates state party to ensure right to health for the person with disability. Infections which are supposed to be spread after not using toilet simply due to the poor accessibility could be dangerous and alarming public health issue and nonetheless this may tarnish the aim of making Nepal an open defecation free zone. Therefore, it’s very important for the ODF campaigners to ensure the disability inclusiveness during the implementation.

Thanks to one who are involved in ODF campaigning and declaring the VDCs and district an open defecation free zone. When I go to the different districts, I see a sign board on the VDCs that’s telling," This particular VDC is an open defection free zone". It’s really praiseworthy that at least right holders, decision makers and service providers of these places aimed and decided to make their area an open defecation free zone. But declaration is work that is done in table and the very vital thing is the real implementation. Inculcating the habit of wisely using the toilet is a long term process where the routine follow up and re-sensitization is very important to sustain the real implementation of the ODF campaigning. Routine follow is a time consuming process hence the campaigning should be done in close collaboration with the local groups and authority. FCHVs and social mobilizers of VDCs are volunteers who are in constant touch with the local people and who have the information about the real scenario of the VDC. Therefore, they can be the potential human resource could be trained and deployed for the follow up in the community as the part of their regular work.

Let us link the ODF campaigning with the government of Nepal published accessibility guideline that obligates state and non-state actors to ensure the accessible environment (for the person with disability) in the public places. Hence philosophy of this guideline needs to be well incorporated during the implementation and follow up process of making Nepal an ODF free zone. International rehabilitation experts says that only 4% of the total rehabilitation needs are being addressed in Nepal. Still Nepal has 96% of the rehabilitation needs that has to be fulfilled. The rehabilitation needs could be physiotherapy, assistive devices, corrective surgeries and other specialized services. The rehabilitation services are directly linked with the mobility of the person with disability. Increase mobility of the person with disability increases the access to toilets and other sanitation measures.  Therefore, multi sectorial collaboration is something very desirable at the implementation level.  Multi sectorial collaboration for the inclusive ODF campaigning could  be resulted by distributing the resources and responsibility among right holder-person with disability, decision makers-state party/ministries/DDC/VDC and service providers to the person with disability- rehabilitation center located in each regions of Nepal.

Since today is international toilet day, let’s rejuvenate ourselves s to make Nepal an ODF free zone. Let’s have a positive hope that the newly elected leaders will lead and make this campaign a very success setting an outstanding example in this world.



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