Philippines: Post Yolanda assistance center on water, health issues
Roxas City – International humanitarian organizations are giving attention on water, health and hygiene (WASH) issues in the aftermath of supertyphoon Yolando.
The ACF International in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund is implementing programs giving priority on WASH towards disaster risk reduction.
Behavior Change and Communications Officer Leomer Lacorte of ACF-Panay disclosed that they are capacitating the people in selected supertyphoon-affected areas in Capiz and Iloilo.
He said that in Capiz, they are supporting two towns, namely Pontevedra and Pilar, particularly in 13 and 6 villages, respectively.
Lacorte also said that their WASH program implementation in Iloilo province are in Concepcion, San Dionisio, Sara, and Ajuy.
Recently, a one-day legislation workshop on WASH was conducted for barangay and municipal officials of the program beneficiary barangays and towns in Capiz and Iloilo, with the involvement of other partner agencies such as the Provincial Health Office, Department of Education, Department of the Interior and Local Government and Department of Health.
Lacorte said that the WASH Disaster Risk Reduction program aims to address the WASH needs of typhoon Yolanda-affected population as a transition to developmental phase, particularly as an approach to total sanitation.
During said gathering, the issues on access to safe and clean water both for drinking and domestic use as well as effects of lack of access to it, particularly on health, sanitation and hygiene were given attention.
According to him, legislation in relation to WASH is a must in addressing the various issues relative thereto. (JCM/JBG/PIA6-Capiz)