Allocation for WASH key to controlling Covid-19
Allocating adequate budget to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector in the upcoming national budget should be a key priority to prevent and control Covid-19, said experts yesterday.
They made the remarks at a virtual press conference held by WaterAid, Unicef, PPRC, FANSA-BD, WSSCC,B, FSM Network, Sanitation and Water for All and WASH Alliance, says a press release.
Eminent economist Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, said the upcoming budget must prioritise hygiene as a critical area in the light of Covid-19 threat and the complexities of SDG-6 attainment.
Hasin Jahan, Country Director of WaterAid, also said investment in nationwide hygiene promotion and behaviour change campaigns must get priority in the budget to control Covid-19.
Other speakers also stated that the allocation of the budget shouldn't differ from urban infrastructure to rural areas, as everyone around the nation are at risk of contracting the coronavirus.
An analysis of PPRC revealed that the government has made commendable progress on WASH financing, as the allocation has demonstrated an upward trend from the budget of 2007-08 (Tk 25.63 billion) to 2019-20 (Tk 106.87 billion).
The analysis also shows geographical inequality of WASH allocation remains significant, where cities and towns received higher percentage of funding compared to rural, char, hilly, and coastal areas.
The press conference put forward recommendations including increase of immediate investment in WASH, including hygiene and WASH in healthcare facilities, with a particular focus on hard-to-reach areas and other merginalised groups.
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