19 November 2012
World Toilet Day highlights importance of access to clean water and hygiene services
World Toilet Day is celebrated globally on 19 November to highlight the importance of clean water and access to hygiene services to keep communities healthy.
Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Matt Anderson said access to water and sanitation is a focus of the Solomon Islands – Australia Partnership for Development. AusAID currently provides around SBD $17.5 million every year (A$2.5 million) to improve access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene for rural Solomon Islanders.
“While we are making progress to boost access to clean water and build toilets, we know that only about half the population currently have access to clean water all the time. Poor hygiene as a result of this limited access can create illness and disease,” Mr Anderson said.
“The 2011 People’s Survey highlighted that common barriers to clean water were the inadequacy of the water source itself (53%) and problems with the storage tank, pump or pipes (41%).”
“We are working with the Ministry of Health to tackle this problem by installing water tanks and toilets in schools and communities across the country to reduce disease and improve the health of communities,” Mr Anderson said.
“Through the Access to Clean Water and Sanitation Initiative, Australian funding has helped the Ministry of Health complete 89 rural water and sanitation facilities in all eight rural provinces. The program is installing water pipes, tanks and toilets in rural communities and is aiming to provide more than 100,000 rural people access to clean water and sanitation facilities.”
Principal of Betivatu community school, Eddie Gideon, with students. The new water tanks and toilets mean that students and staff have clean water and better hygiene
Water tanks and toilets have also been installed in rural schools to improve public health through a partnership with Solomon Islands, AusAID, World Vision and ADRA.
“So far this has given access to clean water or basic sanitation services to an additional 3,800 households or around 24,000 Solomon Islanders. Twelve schools were also connected to improved sanitation facilities last year,” Mr Anderson said.
Australia is providing SBD675 million (A$90 million) over the next four years to assist the Solomon Islands Government improve health services in Solomon Islands. This includes SBD $72 million (A$10.25 million) for rural water, sanitation and hygiene services.