Workshop on action research on social mobilization for sanitation

Abstract

The Environmental Health Programme of International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh and Development of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) have been jointly conducting an applied research on social mobilization for sanitation (SOC-MOB) programme in Singair, Manikganj aiming at further improving the SOC-MOB programme of DPHE-UNICEF. To share the findings of this research and to develop recommendations for the SOC-MOB programme, a national workshop on Action Research on Social Mobilization for Sanitation was held during 15-16 February 1997. Representatives from community and various governmental, non-governmental, UN and donor agencies participated in the Workshop. The presence of senior political leaders and officials of the country indicated national interest and commitments toward the inprovement of sanitation conditions. During the technical sessions of the Workshop, several papers were presented which were followed by discussions. The papers were developed based on the experiences gained in Singair on four issues: (i) Role of DPHE, (ii) Role of Union WATSAN Committree, (iii) Role of Partners, and (iv) Role of NGO. The participants were given cards with a request to write down the problems they have been facing in implementing the water-sanitation activities of the SOC-MOB programme. These cards were grouped under three broad categories: (a) Promotion, (b) Consumer Satisfaction, and (c) Monitoring/ Evalution and Others. The participants prioritized the problems from the solution point of view. They also developed recommendations which were subsequently presented and finalized in the plenary sessions. The follnowing important recommendations were developed at the Workshop: (1) proper notification from the concerned authorities to allow all partners to take part in the Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WSH) activities; (2) at least one latrine production centre should be established in every union; (3) national mass media (Radio and TV) should be involved in WSH promotion; (4) workers of all prrtners should be given orientation on WSH topic; (5) further research should be conducted to bridge gap between knowledge, realities, and advancement. It is hoped that the proceedings of the Workshop will be useful to all partners of the water-sanitation sector in planning and implementing the water, sanitation and hygiene-related activities.