By Upama Tamla (Rai) | Media Associate
As the Kathmandu valley faces rising cases of cholera, ECCA has been organizing more community awareness programs related to safe drinking water. Since the past few weeks, ECCA counselors are actively engaged in conducting safe drinking water programs at vulnerable parts of the city to bring up issues of preventive actions. The programs not only make communities aware about safe drinking water, but it also intensifies youth involvement in raising community issues.
Pratik , new ECCA intern shares his experience of organizing WATASOL stall with senior counselors at Mangalbazar, Lalitpur, “As visitors approached us with curiosity, we explained them about the recent outbreak of waterborne diseases. As one of the solutions to making drinking water safe, we presented WATASOL, a chlorine solution that disinfects unsafe water.”
About 100 people visited the stall over one day. He further expressed, “I was surprised to see how cooperative people were. In my view, people were pleased to find a solution that could help them protect their family from being sick.”
Sujan, one of our active counselors, who organized another WATASOL stall at Manamaiju Village shares, “Since WATASOL was new to the villagers, they were not sure about using it at the beginning. As we explained about water pollution and water quality testing techniques, they were shocked to hear that their daily consuming water is so polluted. Some of them agreed to use WATASOL and some of them wanted to confirm the water quality (they took home coliform testing vial for water quality testing purpose). Overall they seemed clear about our motive and we are happy about it. We hope our action will bring positive change and awareness in people and thus promote healthy life.”
WATASOL stall at ManamaijuA street drama was also conducted by ECCA in collaboration with Amarapur Community Learning Center (CLC) at Bungamati village, where counselors performed to address drinking water issues and also rising cholera cases. WATASOL stall was placed by nature club members of Tri-Ratna Co-operative Secondary School.
Street drama at Bungamati being conducted in collaboration with Annapurna CLC
As we attempt to make communities aware about safe drinking water issues, we expect positive outcomes and behavioral changes in the people.
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