Conference on Safe Water and Ecological Sanitation: Perspectives for Georgia
On World toilet day, 19 November, WECF partner organization Georgian Ecological and Biological Monitoring Organization (GEBMA) organized a high level conference on Sanitation and Water
14.12.2008 |Anna Samwel
On World toilet day, 19 November, WECF partner organization Georgian Ecological and Biological Monitoring Organization (GEBMA) organized a high level conference on Sanitation and Water in the frame of the ELA project with financial support of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
About 40 representatives from the Georgian Parliament, the Georgian Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, WHO LOGe, different universities, research institutions, NGO’s and laboratories were present. The President of the Academy of Preventive Medicine Sciences of Georgia , Academician, Irakli Phagava opened the conference together with Manana Juruli (GEBMA) and Anna Samwel (WECF). He read the welcoming word from Prof. Saal Gamcemlidze, Head of the Committee of Environmental and Natural Resources Protection of the Parliament of Georgia.
Aleksandre Mindorashvili from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection informed the participants of the conference about the fact that no state monitoring of drinking water outside the big cities is carried out in Georgia. Up until 2004 there were around 13.770 cases of water borne diseases connected with central water supply, thus excluding incidences with wells. Without intervention this will increase every year with 5 – 10%. After 2004 there are no data available because the responsible institutions are not working anymore. There are no plans from the Government known to the participants to improve the situation.
WECF partners Green Movement, GEBMA and RCDA presented their activities on sanitation, water and solid waste management within the framework of the ELA (Empowerment and Local Action) programme. They suggest practical solution to Georgia’s water and sanitation problems. GEBMA introduced the participants to the advantages of Ecological Sanitation versus conventional sanitation systems and had a presentation about the hygienic health risks. Dr. Inga Gvineria presented the WHO Guidelines on safe use of wastewater, excreta and grey water.
The government representatives were positive to ecological sanitation and the activities of WECF and the NGO’s in the region. It was concluded that the water and sanitation issues in Georgia needs to be brought more under attention of the public and of politics, who should work together to improve the current situation.
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