Experts called on the government to increase the budgetary allocation in fiscal year 2021-2022 (FY22) for the hygiene to address the need for fighting against the coronavirus pandemic and keeping people safe and aware.
And, more investment is a must in water, sanitation and hygiene for a long-term sustainable solution against the pandemic, they also said.
The experts said that water and hygiene related allocation in the budget has been ignored for a long time.
Only 40 per cent of the population have access to basic hygiene facilities while there is only 5.0 per cent budgetary allocation for the sector and the environment sector.
The speakers made the remarks at a pre-budget virtual press conference jointly organised by WaterAid, UNICEF, PPRC, FANSA-BD, FSM Network, Sanitation and Water for All, WASH Alliance and MHM Network on Monday.
Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman, Chairman of PPRC presented the key presentation at the event.
He said that water, sanitation, and hygiene must get the attention it deserves in the budget to defeat Covid-19 and keep up with six SDG targets.
“Covid-19 has increased disparities and gaps in many forms, and utmost importance to address inequities in WASH sector is a must to continue the commendable progress the government has demonstrated in SDGs achievement,” he added.
Participants also emphasised that disparity between the urban and rural budgetary allocation also needs to be addressed as it continues to be on rise citing statistics that allocation has been reduced to 17 per cent from 20 per cent since FY17-21.
Availability of clean water, soap and hygiene facilities are still lacking in major cities, including markets, bus terminals, public places, and institutions, and functional facilities are needed at hospitals and clinics in both urban and rural settings with running water, soap to avert widespread virus transmission, speakers said.
Hasin Jahan, Country Director of WaterAid Bangladesh said “We have noticed that Covid-19 has pushed many families to poverty. Many families have slashed their budgets on hygiene materials, especially women who have compromised their period products.”
So, utmost attention and actions are required to curtail additional VAT burden on sanitary products and reduce their prices to make these affordable, she added.
In collaboration with WaterAid and UNICEF, an analysis by the Power and Participation Research Center (PPRC) found that the Bangladesh government's initiatives in financing the WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) sector are commendable.
This is because the allocation of funds in the national budget in the WASH sector from FY08 to FY21 has gradually increased from Tk 25.63 billion to Tk 121.27 billion.
Despite a good increasing trend in the fiscal year 2020-21, less than 5.0 per cent was allocated to hygiene in the WASH allocation.
Experts recommended for a holistic rethinking of WASH priorities with particular focus on elevating hygiene from a mere footnote to a mainstream agenda is suggested as a policy window to fight COVID 19 pandemic.
Steps to explore the linkages between hygiene and health and under-nutrition, particularly of adolescent girls and children, are required, they suggested.
