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KABUL (SW): A national moot on sanitation was told on Tuesday that up to 19 percent of the population i.e. some 4.5 million people still urinate and defecate in open spaces.
Kabul on Tuesday hosted Afghanistan’s First Conference on Sanitation – (AFCOSAN-I) organized by Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) and attended by Bibigul Rula Ghani, the First Lady, cabinet members, representatives of the international community and experts on the subject.
Ferozudin Feroz, Minister for Public Health told the conference that a large chunk of the population lacks awareness about proper sanitation. He noted that annually some 6.2 million children get infected with the virus of diarrhea due to unhygienic sanitation practices across the country.
Naseer Ahmad Durrani, Minister for Rural Development, informed the gathering that since 2011 more than 5 million people have been sensitized about proper sanitation, and the number of people urinating and defecating in open spaces has decreased. The Minister said that currently up to 47 percent of rural population has access to clean drinking water and 32 percent of the rural population also has access to proper sanitation.
The First Lady stressed that the people should own the city they live in, and take care of it instead of relying on the government all the time.
The three-day conference is aimed at building a momentum in this regard, and chalk plans to end open air urination and defecation.
ENDS
