Kandal authorities held a meeting to disseminate guidelines on the elimination of high-level outdoor dissolution (ODF +) in Arey Ksat town on October 5. KANDAL ADMINISTRATION
The Kandal Provincial Administration has announced its commitment to implementing the National Strategic Plan on Rural Clean Water Supply and Sanitation. The plan aims to give rural populations access to a clean water supply and sanitation services by 2025 to achieve open defecation free plus (ODF+) status.
Kandal deputy governor Nuth Puth Dara – who heads the Provincial Working Group on Water Supply, Cleaning, and Rural Sanitation – chaired an October 5 meeting in Arey Ksat town to review the plans.
“We have made significant progress in all areas, including rural clean water supply and sanitation. In fact, 90 per cent of households have access to clean water and 100 per cent have access to pour-flush toilet, hence Kandal being awarded ODF status last year,” he said.
He explained that while ODF status is important to the health and livelihoods of the public, 100 per cent access to clean water is imperative to the 2025 goals of the national strategic plan.
The deputy governor believed that the push to achieve ODF+ status would not take long.
“Kandal appears to meet all of the indicators laid out by the [Ministry] of Rural Development, so conditions are almost perfect,” he said.
He warned that despite this, all stakeholders should continue to remain mindful of the need for public education and continued promotion of environmental sanitation work. This include the construction of pour-flush toilets in commercial premises, as well as people’s homes.
“We must work together to make sure that while we were the third province to be awarded ODF status, we will be the first to be awarded ODF+,” he explained.
Yi Kimthan, deputy country director of Plan International Cambodia, congratulated the province for achieving ODF, affirming that his organisation will continue to support sanitation and clean water efforts cross the Kingdom.
“Plan remains committed to supporting the expeditious verification and declaration of ODF status with the Ministry of Rural Development,” he said.
“We will make further efforts at the national and sub-national level, and plan to achieve ODF status in the provinces that have not yet been declared ODF,” he added.
Six provinces have so far been declared ODF: Svay Rieng, Prey Veng, Kandal, Kep, Kampong Chhnang and Kampong Speu.
