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Caritas vows to clean up Chittagong hills

Health for all the target for Bangladesh's poorest tribal people
Caritas vows to clean up Chittagong hills
A tribal villager in the Chittagong Hill Tracts returns home from work
Published: February 09, 2011 07:00 AM GMT
Updated: February 09, 2011 10:02 AM GMT

Caritas has launched a new campaign in Bangladesh’s southeastern Chittagong region to boost government efforts to provide good health and sanitation for all by 2015. The UNICEF sponsored Communication for Development drive, which is receiving technical support from international NGO, Action Aid, began on February 7 with the start of a four-day staff orientation program in Bandarban district. Caritas’ www.caritasbd.org, efforts in various sub-districts in the Chittagong Hill Tracts aim to promote good health and sanitation through behavioral change amongst hill tribe people. “We’ve started the project with a vision and mission to support the government attain ‘health for all’ by 2015. We will be working with teachers, students, guardians and committee members,” said Mintu Marma, Caritas’ project coordinator. The key is to change behavior regarding health issues among rural tribal people who are poor, downtrodden and lack knowledge about good sanitation and leading a healthy lifestyle, he told ucanews.com. He said the campaign will work hand-in-hand with existing government efforts to improve health, water and sanitation, education and social development for tribal people. “We will prioritize children in our activities, because they are the future of the family and nation,” he added. A “Mother and Childcare, awareness drive on nutritious food for proper growth of children, medical treatment, personal hygiene, looking after children at home and at school also falls within the overall campaign,” Caritas program officer Atul Krishna Majumder told ucanews.com. UNICEF Bangladesh says it and offices worldwide have been working to end corporal punishment at home and in schools and promote child injury protection and treatment; birth registrations; regular washing by children; and HIV/Aids prevention. Related reports Caritas strives to provide food securityNew training center doubles youth serviceCaritas’ ‘green revolution’ promotes tribal people’s self-relianceCaritas grants keep bright tribal youngsters from dropping out BA13203.1640

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