Orientation on Health, Sanitation and Environment Conservation
Background
Nagarjun Municipality is one of the newly declared municipalities in the country. It is adjoining to the Kathmandu Metropolitan city and is an emerging urban area. In discussion with the municipal officials, it was suggested that a program on environment conservation, health and sanitation, be organized. The program was also deemed necessary in helping them achieve the indicators of the Environment Friendly Local Governance (EFLG) that was endorsed by the government of Nepal with an aim to make the entire nation environment friendly.
Prakriti Resources Centre (PRC), conducted an orientation program from 25 June to 28 June 2016, to discuss on issues of environment conservation, health and sanitation. The four-day orientation program, targeted for the women of Nagarjun Municipality, was organized in two batches whereby each batch was engaged for a period of two days. A total of 89 women, 41 in the first batch and 48 in the second, were directly benefitted from the orientation program.
Objectives
The program was conducted with an objective of providing orientation to the women of Nagarjun Municipality on issues related to environment, greenery and health in accordance with the indicators outlined in the Environment Friendly Local Governance Framework.
Activities
The orientation program was divided into two major parts:
i) Environment Friendly Local Governance: In this section, the participants were communicated on how their everyday activities could be directed towards becoming environment-friendly. In this context, they were encouraged to minimize the use of plastic bags, increase greenery, plant trees and undertake proper waste management among other aspects.
ii) Health and sanitation in the municipality: In this session, discussions were directed towards issues of clean environment, personal health and hygiene and nutrition.
The orientation program was very lively and interactive as women participants were eager to discuss and share their experiences. They also worked in small groups to share in detail and present on certain issues of health, sanitation and environment. The program was much enjoyed by the participants.
Outcomes
The orientation program was able to achieve the objectives with which it was conducted. It had the following outcomes:
Outcome I: The participants were informed and encouraged to implement the information regarding the basic principles of EFLG, its indicators and ways by which one could make the community environment-friendly.
Outcome II: The participants were encouraged to implement the learning from the program in real life, and hence, contribute in making households and communities environment-friendly.
Conclusion
The program received a positive response from the participants. It has motivated and encouraged the women of Nagarjun Municipality in bringing about behavioral change in terms of taking care of the environmental, health and sanitation practices. The good response from the participants signaled that such kind of program has a great value in emerging urban areas like the Nagarjun Municipaliy. There has been a strong demand to continue the program in the future, in detail. PRC looks forward to working on similar programs in the future.