School of Public Health PGI Organizes Workshop on 'Water, Sanitation and Health'

By 121 News

Chandigarh 02^nd August:- A 5-day training programme on the 'Water, Sanitation and Health' commenced Today (2^nd August 2016) at School of Public Health, PGI to build the capacity of medical professionals towards achieving goal of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in domains of clean drinking water, better sanitation and health. The progamme is being coordinated by Dr. Ravindra Khaiwal, Associate Professor of Environment Health, School of Public Health, PGI  and is supported by Department of Health Research (DHR), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, New Delhi. Over 30 participants from various medical colleges, universities and government organizations representing eight states of India including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Oddisa, West Bengal and Chandigarh are attending the training.   

The Environmental Training Programme was inaugurated by Santosh Kumar, Director, Science & Technology & Renewable Energy and Environment, Chandigarh Administration and session was chaired by Prof. Rajesh Kumar, HOD, School of Public Health, PGI, Chandigarh and Dr. Ravindra Khaiwal, Associate Professor of Environment Health.

 Santosh Kumar mentioned that it is important to bring the 'Doctors for Sanitation' as they can sensitise more people to adopt safe sanitation practices and to make communities free from open defecation. He stressed that to ensure that the constructed and functional toilets are also used, behaviour change is key.

Professor Rajesh Kumar highlighted that looking only at the number of constructed toilets, may dilute the whole sanitation chain, which includes containment, emptying, transport, treatment and disposal. Hence, he stressed that a shift towards toilets that are used, maintained is needed.

Dr. Ravindra Khaiwal, Associate Professor of Environment Health mentioned that workshop focus to train and engage young medical and public health professionals for Swachh Bharat Mission. He mentioned that in 2012 only 39% rural population has toilets, which has increased to 52% since the launch of Swachh Bharat Mission in 2014. He also specify that participants will be trained to guide Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) to make the India open defecation free.   

The resource persons of the workshop include Dr. Suman Mor, Panjab University, Chandigarh; Dr. UN Roy, NITTR; Dr. Bhaneet Bharti, Dr, Maneet kaur, Dr. Madhu Gupta, Dr. Malkeet Singh, and Dr Sonu Goel from PGI SitaRam from Pune; Dr. Puran Singh Yadav from Haryana Institute of Rural Development including the Er Krishan Lal and Er Jasvir Singh from Fatehgarh Sahib Department of Water Sanitation and Supply.

The workshop specifically covers water-borne diseases, strategic communication for behaviour change, bacteriological examination of drinking water, Water & Sanitation in Urban Slum, Practical Demonstration and Implementation of Community Led Total Sanitation, which includes Walk of Shame; Triggering; Formulation of different committees, Defecation Mapping; Medical Expenditure Mapping, and Community Action Plan. The workshop includes more field based exercise and success stories from the region to make India open defecation free.