These challenges are exacerbated by the region’s rugged topography, dense forests, limited infrastructure, and socio-economic constraints. Despite national initiatives such as the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), achieving equitable and sustainable improvements in public health remains a daunting task.
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Correspondent
A regional workshop on public health and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) was organized by NITI Aayog on Wednesday at Niathu Resort, Chumoukedima. Held under the patronage of the Government of Nagaland and supported by the “Champion of Change” initiative, the event was themed “A NeVolution Initiative”. The workshop highlighted the challenges faced by the eight northeastern states—Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim—despite their rich biodiversity and cultural diversity.
The discussions revealed that the region faces significant public health issues, particularly related to WASH and waste management. These challenges are exacerbated by the region’s rugged topography, dense forests, limited infrastructure, and socio-economic constraints. Despite national initiatives such as the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), achieving equitable and sustainable improvements in public health remains a daunting task.
In the context of public health in the northeast, “WASH”s issues play a critical role as the availability and quality of water, access to sanitation, and the management of waste (s) are directly linked to a range of preventable diseases, particularly waterborne diseases which was found by the World Health Organization (WHO) that water, sanitation, and hygiene related diseases remain one of the leading causes of “morbidity and mortality” in developing regions.
A data from WHO and UNICEF suggested that waterborne diseases including Diarrhea, Choleria, and Typhoid fever are prevalent across the region due to combination of unsafe drinking water, inadequate sanitation, and insufficient hygiene practices.
It is to be mentioned that the concept notes and the minutes of the programme held, available with the media personals, stated that Assam, Meghalaya, and Tripura, had reported high incidences of the diseases, with Assam having one of the highest rates of diarrheal diseases among children under the age of five in the Country.
Moreover, the region also faces significant challenges related to the waste management with many pockets or areas lacking adequate infrastructure for solid and liquid waste management leading to increased environmental pollution and health risks.
It said that despite the National efforts under the “Jal Jeevan Mission”, aimed to provide safe and adequate drinking water to all rural households by 2024, which was last year, there remain notable differences in access to safe drinking water and sanitation services across some states in the northeastern region while states like Arunachal Pradesh, and Mizoram have achieved full rural tap water coverage, while other states like Manipur, and Tripura, continue to make progress.
As of 2023, Manipur reported a rural tap water coverage of 79.59 percent, and Tripura with 85.42 percent, highlighting areas where further focus and support could enhance access.
Furthermore, although the region has achieved progress in “Open Defecation Free” or the ODF status, there is lag to meet the ODF Plus National target as the lack of proper faecal sludge management and wastewater treatment exacerbates the challenges in sustaining these gains, leading to a continuing burden of preventable diseases, and in the light of theses challenges, it is crucial to recognize a “tailored” approach that considers the unique socio-economic, cultural, and environmental conditions.
The regional workshop also brought together stakeholders from diverse sectors including health experts, policy makers, community leaders, and civil society organizations to discuss innovative, sustainable community driven solutions to improve public health and well-being across the northeastern region.
PERCENTAGE OF HOUSEHOLDS WITH TAP WATER COVERAGE IN NE STATES
- Arunachal Pradesh- 100 percent coverage achieved
- Assam- 81.46% (Close to target, progress ongoing)
- Manipur-79.59% (Access gap, ongoing improvements)
- Meghalaya-82.01% (Access gap, ongoing improvements)
- Mizoram-100% (100 percent coverage achieved)
- Nagaland-92.76% (Close to target, progress ongoing)
- Sikkim-91.03% (Close to target, progress ongoing)
- Tripura-85.42% (Access gap, ongoing improvements)