Approval Date: March 2005

There is hard evidence that sanitation interventions lead to significant improvement in disease control and overall well-being. a study documented that total sanitation coverage and improved water facilities reduced diarrhea by 99%,  dysentery by 90%, and other stomach-related problems such as intestinal worms by 51%. The national sanitation goal is to achieve 100% sanitation coverage by 2010. This challenging target is much ahead of the MDGs. The government has already taken the initiative to achieve this national sanitation target in collaboration with development partners and NGOs. The primary objective of this national sanitation strategy is to delineate the ways and means of achieving the national target by providing a uniform guideline for all concerned. More specifically, the objectives of this strategy are to: address the key sector issues, define the roles of various actors, and guide the creation of enabling conditions for success.