Prime Minister Hun Sen has urged that more attention be paid to rural sanitation, according to a message he shared on November 13, the 13th National Sanitation Day.

He called on all participants in the sector to redouble their efforts and cooperation with each other.

“The Ministry of Rural Development, as well as all relevant institutions, must mobilise additional resources to promote rural sanitation. We aim to reach 90 per cent coverage, in line with the phase II of the national action plan on rural water supply and sanitation by 2023,” he said.

He also encouraged and supported all provinces, towns, districts, communes and villages with high rates of hygiene to strive to achieve Open Defecation Free (ODF) status. He also called for closer attention to the sanitation needs of impoverished areas and the most vulnerable members of society, including widows and the indigenous.

“This year is the 13th anniversary of the national day for promoting sanitation, which is an important annual reminder that everyone should be working to increase sanitation coverage in Cambodia,” he said.

He added that the government was determined to achieve its vision, which clearly stated that “all people in rural communities must receive equitable and sustainable water supply and sanitation services by 2025”.

According to the prime minister, Kandal, Kampong Speu, Kep and Kampong Chhnang provinces will achieve ODF status in the near future. 5,298 villages, 393 communes, and 31 districts or towns have already been declared ODF.

“The positive progress of rural sanitation is a source of pride for the nation, Cambodia, which used to have low rates of sanitation or unsanitary conditions, has gradually become a country with a cleaner environment,” Hun Sen said.

The rural development ministry has set the target of providing 100 per cent clean water supply and sanitation services throughout the Kingdom by 2025, in line with the National Action Plan on Rural Water Supply and Sanitation.

According to the ministry, in the first three months of the year, coverage rates of clean water service and sanitation reached 80 per cent.

UNICEF Cambodia said that Cambodia is making progress, but not enough to meet their goals. Despite improved water and sanitation systems and habits, Cambodia has one of the highest rates of open defecation in the region, with about eight in 10 of the poorest people in rural areas being without toilets.

“Only behavioural change will improve this. Education is needed so people have a better understanding about the importance of living with clean water and good hygiene. This will reduce the gap between the construction of toilets and hand washing facilities and when people actually use these facilities,” said UNICEF Cambodia.

So far, two provinces have been declared ODF, Svay Rieng and Prey Veng province.

Government records show that this year, the sanitation coverage rate of rural communities increased to over 80 per cent, while the rate of rural households with hand washing facilities has increased to 96 per cent.