JMP report says, only 46% sanitation coverage in Nepal

Sabitri Rajbhandari, Kathmandu | According to national statistics report, 92 percent of households have sanitation facilities in Nepal but the Joint Monitoring Program (JMP) report showed that sanitation facilities have reached out to only 46 percent of Nepalese household.

In order to inform about the sustainable development goal in terms of water and sanitation and JMP, water and sanitation specialist Rabin Lal Shrestha, GUTHI shared the status of water and sanitation of Nepal.

After the difference in the result shown between the JMP and the national statistics report on sanitation status, Country Director of Splash International, Dhurba Karki said that either the result of JMP or of the national statistics is wrong.

He shared difference in result due to small range could be accepted but the difference is almost half. It questions the work efficiency, its quality, credentials. He requested to revisit the report and review it. 'The result cann not be so different, either JMP report is wrong or we are wrong. How come we have such a huge difference in the result? We need to review it, if not, it might be shameful to present such result in internatonal front,” shared Karki.

Environment and Public Health Organization’s Executive Director, Bipin Dongol shared constructing toilet is not everything, it is also necessary to manage the wastewater and sludge generated from the toilets. He further shared if the works are implemented following the Master Sanitation Guidelines then there won’t be any problem.  He shared, "7 percent of the wastewater can only be treated while the 93% water can not be treated as we lack in research which is why in order to achieve the sustainable development goal in time, research study should be conducted adding the necessary work as indicated in SDG.”

The Federation of Drinking Water and Sanitation Nepal’s Chairman Rajendra Aryal shared that during the rainy season, the water source is polluted. He stressed on lack of water purification methods for drinking purpose. He shared inability to prove any means to solve the exposed problems.

Similarly, Water Aid Nepal’s Manager, Shikh Shrestha said that there is huge difference between the national data of Nepal and JMP report and in this speed, the basic drinking water in 2038, and only in 2046 the basic sanitation facilities would reach.

Listening to all participants, water expert Rabin Lal Shrestha said that the JMP report only counts the improved sanitation and hygiene due to which the difference between the national statistics and JMP report has occured.

What is JMP Report?

Joint Monitoring Program (JMP) report is globally prepared report in leadership of UNICEF and World Health Organisation. In this report, the government presents the national statistics.The report is collected in two ways. One is collection of an administrative data and another is through the household survey. JMP does not recognise the government’s regular administrative statistics. Rabin Lal Shrestha, GUTHI’s water specialist shared, “In Nepal, the collected data by conducting Demographic Health Survey, census survey, multiple indicators cluster survelience are required. Based on household survey, JMP’s data are collected.The data is to be send by the government. "

Bringing in Foreign Investors in water and sanitation sector- Secretary Upadhyaya

Bhim Prasad Upadhyaya, Secretary of Ministry of Water Supply and Sanitation shared that the government, NGOs and donor agencies do not have enough money to meet the government targets. He added, "We talk highly but the reality is that neither government, donors nor non-governmental organizations have money. We are striving to feed water through NRs. 22,00,00,00,000/-, but up to five years, for half the year,  I have asked 2,50,00,00,00,000/- to the Prime Minister.”

“Due to lack of fund, it is necessary to bring in foreign investors in this sector”, he said.

Source: WASH Khabar

Link: http://washkhabar.com/news/1760