by Piyaporn Hawiset
June 18, 1999
A new user-centred strategy for water supply and sanitation for rural areas from 1999 to 2020 was presented at a conference in Ha Noi on June 17, 1999 by the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).
Deputy Construction Minister Nguyen Tan Van, MARD Deputy Minister Nguyen Thien Luan and Danish Ambassador Ove Ullerup attended the conference that launched the national rural water supply and sanitation strategy.
The strategy, which was compiled with USD 2 million in financial assistance from the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), covers the finding and using of water resources, the supply of clean water for households, the building of household sanitary facilities and prevention of diseases caused by the use of unsafe water and environmental pollution. The strategy ensures that it is the demand of the user which determines the planning and provision of water and sanitation services, and it is the user who decides on the kind of services he or she wants and how to operate them.
The strategy is to be submitted to the Prime Minister for approval later. The Deputy Minister for Construction said the strategy had been carefully formulated, co-opting opinions and desire of the rural communities, authorities and associations from the village to national levels. He said the strategy presents basic goals of social economic development in rural Vietnam for the immediate and the distant future. National Project Manager Nguyen Van Than stressed the importance of the strategy for rural areas where an estimated 80 percent of Vietnam's population live. It aims to give 80 percent of rural people access to safe water and 50 percent of rural households to sanitary facilities from now to 2005.
To achieve the targets, Viet Nam will strive to supply safe water and improve environmental sanitary conditions for rural areas, particularly mountainous and coastal areas prone to drought and sea water encroachment. It will also develop human resource and raise public awareness of clean water supply and environmental hygiene.
Effective information, education and communication programs at grassroots level will enable the user to make informed choices, and the commitment of the user is demonstrated by his or her willingness to participate and to pay for both construction and operating costs. International experience has demonstrated that this is the most appropriate approach to ensure economically and financially sustainable service delivery and socially sustainable management and maintenance.
Average cost for implementing the strategy from now to 2020 is estimated at VND 1,840 billion (USD 132.3 million) per year.
However, the strategy is facing difficulties because of rural people's low income and their limited awareness of health, clean water and environmental hygiene. Therefore, apart from the Government's due attention to the strategy, Viet Nam needs financial and technical assistance from international organizations as well as their help in personnel training. National Project Manager Nguyen Van Than noted that although new approaches were being made world wide towards rural water supply and sanitation, Vietnam has yet to determine a clear director for development.
In Ha Noi as of June 1999, 50 percent of farmer households were using water from wells without proper covers, 25 percent were using untreated river water and 10 percent were using rain water, the safeest form of untreated water. Nation-wide, about 50 percent of rural households are supplied with enough water for their daily needs, but only ten percent of them have access to safe water.