MPs on water, sanitation forum plan for post-COVID-19 era

 

The conference, scheduled for October 6, will bring together policymakers, civil society organizations, corporate organizations, and members of the private sector.

 

The theme of this year's conference is Exploring the Role of WASH in the post-COVID-19 era.

 

The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, is expected to preside of the event as the chief guest.

  

According to the chairperson of the forum, Jacqueline Amongin, the e-conference will provide a platform to key stakeholders to share knowledge, experiences, and lessons from across the continent on the challenges and opportunities around efforts to scale-up WASH especially in the post-COVID-19 era.

 

"The provision of safe water, sanitation, and hygienic conditions is essential for protecting human health during all infectious disease outbreaks, including COVID-19. It is therefore timely that the discussions around issues of WASH and its importance are given priority, especially as we battle Covid-19 which has no known cure or vaccine," Amongin said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

 

Alongside other important behaviors such as physical social distancing, proper wearing of a facemask covering the mouth and nose, frequent handwashing with soap, and using an alcohol-based disinfectant is essential to controlling the pandemic.

 

With no known cure of COVID-19 and in the absence of a vaccine, preventing its spread from person to person remains critical in reducing the pandemic's impact on people's lives, health, livelihoods, and the healthcare systems.

 

Amongin revealed that the decision to hold an e-conference has been informed by the on-going movement restrictions, as well as social distancing measures that have been ordered by the government.

 

"We will have between 20-30 participants invited for the physical meeting, observing strict social distancing guidelines (of 2 meters apart) while the rest of the participants will be online, via social media platforms such as Zoom, twitter, among others," Amongin said.

 

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the world, Uganda has recorded at least 6,000 confirmed cases, 2,600 recoveries, and at least 63 deaths, as of at September 20.