Minister Adhikari stresses individual hygience's importance for healthy society

By Murari Adhikari,Dhading, Oct. 29: Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Ramnath Adhikari, has said that if the health of the general public is poor, the entire society cannot be truly healthy. 

Speaking at the clean and hygienic ward declaration programme in ward-6 of Jwalamukhi Rural Municipality on Sunday, Minister Adhikari affirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the people’s fundamental right to healthcare and service facilities, as enshrined in Nepal’s Constitution.

He urged everyone to participate in cleaning their homes and communities, emphasising that if the surroundings of homes and communities are unclean, it leads to unhealthy water and food, which directly impacts health. 

He further said that unhealthy citizens could not contribute effectively to the nation, adding that a clean village gives a positive identity to the society.

The ward was declared a model of cleanliness and hygiene on Sunday, after meeting five behaviours, 15 indicators, and 45 sub-indicators related to health, cleanliness and hygiene. 

This achievement was made possible through the planning of the ward office in collaboration with Community Transformation Society Nepal, Shanti Nepal, Jwalamukhi Rural Municipality, and the Jwalamukhi Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Management Board.

The programme to declare a model clean and hygienic area under the drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene initiative began in Dhading district on February 12, 2020, starting in several villages of the same ward. 

The rural municipality has formed a water supply and sanitation management board to oversee the water supply and sanitation sector and advance the campaign as a priority. 

Previously, Ward No. 3 of Gangajamuna Rural Municipality was declared the first clean and hygienic ward in the district. 

To date, 2,020 households in the municipality have achieved clean status, and a further 1,049 households are preparing to achieve the status. 

Yamanath Danai, chairman of the municipality, stated that the aim is to reach 3,220 of the municipality’s 6,079 households, intending to declare a clean and hygienic rural municipality by the year 2082 B.S.

According to Chairman Danai, 50 per cent of households in the rural municipality now use safe drinking water, and nearly 80 per cent have access to individual water taps.