WASH in Tibetan Communities across India amid Pandemic

Dharamshala: While COVID-19 pandemic makes the availability of Water and Sanitation facilities and its promotion more essential than ever, the Department of Health C.T.A scaled up its current response efforts to build infrastructures related to various projects of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Tibetan communities across India amidst pandemic.

WASH is an important program under the department amongst others, which aims to improve accessibility and availability of safe drinking water and sanitation infrastructure in Tibetan Settlements. The health department, in coordination with the settlement officers, Executive Secretaries of Hospital and camp leaders, actively support to consistently practice personal hygiene and sanitation in Tibetan settlements.

Considering the worrying situation of the pandemic, WASH services play a vital role in prevention and controlling the spread by setting up hand washing stations, toilets, expansion of water services that helps in reducing the heightened risk of the virus.

The project has carried out several WASH interventions amidst the pandemic, including the construction of individual and community toilets, recharge pits, check dams, and overhead tank in Tibetan settlements of Hunsur, Tuting, Odisha, Mundgod, Bandara, Dekyiling, and Ngoenga school adhering to COVID-19 risk mitigation measures. This helps in discouraging open-air defecation and motivation for regular hand hygiene practice among the people.

Apart from the WASH program, other projects were also completed such as the renovation of staff quarter, construction of the clinic, procurement of medical equipment, and furniture in various facilities under DoHe.

Through the project, the Department of Health is keen to highlight the importance of sanitation and hygiene to human health and wellbeing during the pandemic and urges all to follow basic hygienic practices at home and public spaces.

-Filed by the Department of Health