Hilary Benn visits Dhaka's slums

Hilary Benn visiting a cluster latrine constructed in Baganbari slum, Mirpur.

Hilary Benn, British Secretary of State for International Development, was welcomed with flowers to the Baganbari slum in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in December last year on a visit to a WaterAid project that has improved the health of the area significantly.

The project is funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and implemented by partner organisation Dushtha Shaystha Kendra (DSK) with WaterAid support. Before, the community had to endure the indignity and disease of hanging latrines and the time-consuming walk to collect water from an inconvenient and expensive source.

The project, which is named Advancing Sustainable Environmental Health (ASEH), has helped to establish communal self-managed waterpoints and sanitation blocks, and to develop a good understanding of safe hygiene.

The Minister heard from Slum Development Committee member Monwara Begum: "Earlier we used to fetch water from a kilometre away and now we pay and get the water. We want to have good roads and living conditions. We would like to bring up our children in a beautiful atmosphere and send them for schooling."

With DSK acting as an intermediary between the community and the city authorities, water services are now affordable and convenient. Other members of the committee told Mr Benn that the outbreak of deadly diarrhoeal diseases had reduced significantly with the availability of safe water for drinking and washing.

Local girls told the Minister about the improvements in hygiene and sanitation, especially for women, who now benefit from segregated facilities.

At the end of his visit, Mr Benn thanked the gathered crowd and said: "I am amazed to see life here and how you are trying to improve your conditions."