WB to continue sanitation project

WB to continue sanitation project

JAKARTA (JP): The World Bank has indicated its interest in
continuing the clean water and sanitation program for Indonesian
villages following a successful first phase, Minister of Health
Achmad Sujudi announced recently.

Achmad said in his written response to a House of
Representatives' inquiry that the government had named four of
six possible provinces for the second phase of the program.

Talks with the bank on the continuation of the program remain
underway and involve the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Home
Affairs, the Ministry of Settlement and Regional Development, the
Ministry of Finance and the National Development Planning Board,
Achmad said.

"We have identified deserving villages in East Java, West Nusa
Tenggara, West Sumatra and South Sulawesi. The selection process
of the other two provinces is underway," he said.

The first phase of the program, which is nearing its
completion, targeted 1,995 villages in Central Sulawesi,
Southeast Sulawesi, East Nusa Tenggara, Central Java, Maluku and
North Sulawesi, wherein a total of 53,584 latrines have been
built.

Achmad said a recent study conducted by the University of
Indonesia in Central Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi and East Nusa
Tenggara, revealed that the sanitary project did improve health
levels in the villages which benefited from the program.

"The clean water project has decreased the number of the
diarrhea cases by 35 percent. At the same time the sanitation
project dropped diarrhea cases by 28 percent," he said.

The program targets only villages classified as poor and
remote. The World Bank loan covers 80 percent of the cost, with
local residents contributing the rest in the form of cash and
building materials.

Achmad said the residents were also responsible for the
maintenance of the latrines. People using the facilities pay
between Rp 500 (US$0.70) and Rp 2,500.

A household is subject to a Rp 50,000 fee for the piping of
clean water. (04)