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Ethiopia
hopeful to achieve access to basic sanitation for all: Expert
MEDIA SAID FAILD TO REPORT ON SANITATION, RELATED
ISSUES
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ADDIS
ABEBA(July 14,2008) - The National Sanitation goal
declared by the Ethiopian government in the universal access program
and launched in 2006 was said paving the path for all people to have
access to basic sanitation to reach 100% coverage by 2012, an expert
said on Thursday.
Presenting a report on the issue of sanitation at a media round table
held at UNICEF house as a guest speaker, Belinda Abraham, UNICEF Sanitation
Expert said Ethiopia towards its sanitation goals improved from 11.5%
in 2003 to 50.8 % in 2007.
Thus, the country is optimistic to achieve access to basic sanitation
for all by the year 2012, the expert said.
Belinda, however, said that even though the obtained results were
encouraging, the media which have the greatest role of influencing
the decision makers and peoples did not perform well regarding the
issue of the country where 35 million the people live with out toilet.
The media reported 564 times about eight people been killed in a certain
blast but not reported as such on the issue in a situation where 17
percent of childhood deaths result from diarrhea and 60 percent of
disease burden is related to water-born and sanitation related diseases,
she added.
Child survival and development in Ethiopia is threatened by low access
to water supply, adequate sanitation and poor hygiene behaviors, according
to the Ministry of Health.
UNICEF said its contribution will be the construction of new water
supply schemes and rehabilitation of old systems.
"A variety of water supply and latrine technologies will be demonstrated
and local artisans will be trained in these areas. Equal attention
will be given to monitoring and supporting proper usage, operation,
maintenance and behavioral change outcomes."
The 4th Monthly Media Round table, organized by UNICEF, discussed
points including Role of the Media in scaling up sanitation, proper
use and maintenance of latrines, Advocacy on prioritizing sanitation
as a development agenda - poverty reduction by decision makers, planners
and administrators among others.
About fifteen participants drawn from government and private media
institutions took part in the monthly round table discussion.
Child deaths attributed to lack of sanitation and hygiene in Ethiopia:
Diarrheal and other parasitic diseases, Diseases that can be prevented
by washing hands with soap: Parasitic, bacterial and viral infections.
The Year 2008 has been declared 'The International Year of Sanitation"
by the United Nations General Assembly. This is coupled with Ethiopia's
unique National Millennium Sanitation Movement.
The International Year of Sanitation 2008 aims to raise the profile
of sanitation issues on the international agenda and to accelerate
progress towards meeting the Millennium Development Goal target of
reducing by half the proportion of people living without access to
improved sanitation by 2015. |
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