BY LORETTA B MANELE
The issue of open defecation is not a health issue anymore, it’s a development issue, says Pauline McNeil, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS).
She raised this whilst delivering her speech at the “World Toilet Day-We’ll Always Need the Toilet” event at Heritage Park Hotel yesterday.
McNeil said last year, the ministry started to sector in their RWASH (Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Program) program in their development budget.
“Because it’s not a health issue anymore, it’s a development issue.
“It needs the whole of government to approach this sector,” she stressed.
McNeil emphasised that last year they started shifting the budget for sanitation from recurrent to development budget so they could be more effective and ensure other players come on board to implement on their behalf.
She explained that because of the HR gaps they have in their sector and in other sectors of the line ministries and partners and owners, they had to expand implementation.
And while there has been progress, McNeil said much more needs to be done.
“We must continue to work together with our development partners who are here with us and our provincial governments, represented by the head of provincial governments, and of course working with communities, will bring you the wisdom for how you implement the work on the ground,” she said.
She also took the opportunity to acknowledge UNICEF in regards to communities that have declared themselves as NOD (No Open Defecation) communities.
McNeil said looking at the communities that have been notified on the NOD, the number she has from her officials right now is 263 communities that have achieved NOD recognition.
“Let’s give a clap to UNICEF,” she said.
As mentioned by the Permanent Secretary, in terms of the breakdown, Malaita province ranks the highest with 124 communities with NOD, Isabel province has 16 communities with NOD, Western Province is at 38 communities with NOD, Guadalcanal at 17 and Makira, 16.
While this is progress, McNeil reiterated that there is a lot more work to be done, noting the importance that resources have to remain available and accessible if we are to progress further.
She calls on all partners to continue to advocate for the importance of accepting this initiative in communities.
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