Date:       Tuesday, 25 March 2008, 10:00AM
Event:      Launch of the Survey on the Environmental Sanitation and Hygiene Situation in Viet Nam
Venue:    Melia Hotel, Ha Noi
Speaker: Mr. John Hendra, United Nations Resident Coordinator for Viet Nam
 

Dear Mr. Nguyen Huy Nga

Every 20 seconds, a child dies as a result of the abysmal sanitation conditions endured by some 2.6 billion people globally.  That adds up to an unconscionable 1.5 million young lives cut short by a cause we know well how to prevent.

Those are the somber words of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, reminding us of the tragic consequences of what has been called a “silent crisis”.  Here in Viet Nam, poor sanitation and hygiene both directly and indirectly result in thousands of needless deaths every year, particularly of young children. 

But there are also hopeful words in the UN Secretary General’s statement as well.  We do know how to prevent the great suffering and economic loss that poor sanitation is causing. Relatively simple and low cost interventions can make an enormous difference in the lives of children and families in Viet Nam.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As UN Resident Coordinator, I am very pleased to represent the UN at the launch of this seminal survey by the Ministry of Health and UNICEF on the sanitation and hygiene situation in rural Viet Nam.  It provides much needed data for all stakeholders and policymakers in the country, and includes strategies and recommendations for improving environmental sanitation and personal hygiene practices in rural households, local communities, schools, markets and health centers.

As we have learned, sanitation and hygiene are absolutely vital in and of themselves, but they are also critical prerequisites for reducing child and maternal mortality, combating diseases, reducing child undernutrition and achieving universal primary education.

Fortunately, the Government of Viet Nam has shown a strong commitment to improving the sanitation and hygiene situation, and there has been progress, particularly with regard to access to clean water and provision of sanitation in urban areas. A number of policies have been issued and enforced, and many initiatives, often in cooperation with international agencies, are being implemented to address this challenge.
However, the current trends are not sufficient for Viet Nam to achieve its national sanitation targets, or the sanitation targets under Millennium Development Goal 7. Hence, this is one of the few MDGs that Viet Nam is not on track to meet by 2015.

Indeed, the results of the survey demonstrate that the current situation of sanitation in rural Viet Nam is dire.  Only 18% of rural households, less than 12% of schools, and less than 3% of commune markets have hygienic latrines meeting the MOH standards. The quality of latrines at schools is very low, if they exist at all, and most do not have handwashing areas for students. 

In some provinces, a visitor would find that almost no family has a standard hygienic latrine. A child lucky enough to survive his or her early childhood in this environment - with the dangers of diarrhea, worm infection and malnutrition – faces new challenges at school, where sanitation conditions are no better. Lacking standard hygienic latrines, many students do not or cannot use the restrooms during school hours. This is not only harmful for their health, but also can negatively affect their ability to study.

Hygiene is also an indispensable part of the equation. The simple act of handwashing with soap has a real impact on the health and survival of young children. Yet less than 15% of people in rural Viet Nam are in the habit of hand-washing with soap, and less than 5% of schools have soap at handwashing areas.

The consequences of these poor sanitation conditions and unsafe hygiene practices affect all of us. The World Health Organization estimates that 80% of all sickness is related to unsafe water and sanitation. Children, especially girls, are actually forced out of school in many cases, while hygiene-related diseases keep adults from engaging in productive work.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is time to address this challenge with renewed urgency, creativity, resources and commitment.  We must start by recognizing that sanitation is no longer simply a private concern. It affects all of us, and overcoming this challenge will require the cooperation of all members of society, from parents, schools and communities, to local and national government agencies and international organizations.

To date, concerted efforts on the part of the Government, especially the Ministry of Health, as well as the Centre for Rural Water and Sanitation, the United Nations, the World Bank, bilateral agencies and NGOs have all led to an increase in access to clean water – from 65% in 1990 to 85% in 2005. To greatly accelerate this progress, partnerships should be widened to include other Government bodies, civil society groups and the private sector, where we have seen proven success in many other areas such as food fortification and salt iodization.

We also need to integrate solutions to the problem of poor sanitation and hygiene into related development strategies and plans, particularly the child survival and development agenda. To a large extent, sustained progress in health, nutrition and education depends upon improvements in sanitation and hygiene. The beneficial effect of immunizing a child, for example, is entirely lost if that child dies of a diarrhoeal disease due to poor sanitation.

At the same time, we know that the return on our investment in sanitation and hygiene can be great. Every dollar spent on improving sanitation saves over nine dollars in health, education and other social and economic development costs.

In this, the International Year of Sanitation, the United Nations in Viet Nam – especially UNICEF and WHO – reaffirms its commitment to helping Viet Nam reach its sanitation targets.  As a partner in progress, we will continue to work closely with the Government, and all development partners, to address the issue of sanitation, especially as it relates to children. Currently we are working with the Government on a National Child Survival Strategy to be launched in the near future. 

All of us in the international community need to take a lead from our national counterparts and look at how we can continually improve our link to national level processes and priorities. 

As the United Nations, it is very much our hope that this national survey assists in the development of policies, strategies and programmes to expand sanitation services and improve hygiene practices in rural Viet Nam. It should also serve as a useful baseline from which to monitor future progress toward our shared goals.
 
I am confident that Viet Nam will rise to this challenge as it has successfully done so many times before.
 
Thank you very much for your kind attention.

Cam on.