By Tanny.E.Vahi
HONIARA’S main street was paraded yesterday to mark “World Water Day” based on the theme ‘Clean Environment for Clean Water’.
Speaking at the celebrations, Leonard Olivera Director (Ag) Environmental Health of the Ministry of Health (MHMS) said that the theme is in line with the ministry’s vision, mission, and value.
“The vision is ‘Safe water for a healthy nation’, its mission is to ‘provide safe and reliable water services in our areas of operations in Solomon Islands’, and the value is ‘our people’s health is our passion and every ones business’ in the Solomon Islands.”
He stressed that proper sanitation and improving the use will contribute significantly to the vision, mission and value of the Solomon Water with relations to the Environment.
“We all know that good sanitation is vital for human health, it helps take care of the environment and it generates economic benefits and also contributes to human dignity and social development,” he said.
“Solomon Islands is no exemption to issues relating to poor water supply as protection of good quality supply catchment is essential in guaranteeing the supply of good quality and safe water, as well an unprotected water supply catchment could lead to contamination of water supply.
“This maybe of our ancestors but with the increasing population, the need to address sanitation is becoming a pressing issue.”
He also mentioned that health issues relating to improper human waste disposal is still a challenge and “it is a need to seriously look into rural sanitation and water programmes”.
The day was marked by workers from the Ministry and various primary schools especially the Live & Learn groups and people living in and around Honiara.
