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Ethiopia envisions universal access to safe drinking water by 2015Ethiopian Water Resource Minister, Asfaw Dingamo (Source: ENA)The Ethiopian government is set to enable every citizen get access to clean water and sanitation services in the coming five years besides meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the water sector. Water Resource Minister, Asfaw Dingamo said the government remains committed in expansion of safe water and sanitation services across the nation in the coming five years. The minister made the remark here on Monday at a relevant event organized in connection with the World Water Day celebrated under the theme “Clean Water for a Healthy World”. He said Ethiopia has already designed and put into force various policies, strategies and laws in a bid to ensure efficient utilization and prevention of its water resources. According to the minister, the safe water service coverage of the country has reached to 66.2 percent at present from only 20 percent some 19 years ago owing to the concerted efforts of the incumbent government. Citing the Report of the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program, World Bank Representative Robert Chase said 87 percent of the world’s population enjoys safe drinking water sources. However, he said, the report depicts that about 38 percent of the world’s population still lack improved sanitation facilities. In addition to the direct support provided through the water supply and sanitation projects and managing the multi-donor trust fund, which is worth 300 million USD, World Bank is supporting Ethiopia through its Protecting Basic Service Program, Productive Safety-net Program, and Pastoralist Community Development Program, he said. African Development bank Resident Representative, Lamin Barrow said on his part the Bank has launched Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative (RWSSI) in 25 countries, Ethiopia included, as part of the Bank’s assistance toward meeting the MDGs. Ethiopia is among the countries that have placed water at the heart of their development strategies, he said, “Ethiopia has made remarkable progress in recent years toward attaining the Water Millennium Development Goal”. The representative reaffirmed that his Bank will continue to support interventions that span the rehabilitation and expansion of drinking water supply structure, promote sanitation and hygiene education and capacity building for water supply and water resource management. Click HERE to go to the source of this article. |