To celebrate the 2021 World Water Day, USAID IUWASH PLUS organized an online talk show on “What Does Water Mean to You?” on March 19, 2021.
The Director of Housing and Settlement of the Ministry of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Agency, Ms. Tri Dewi Virgiyanti, and the Director of Environment Office of USAID Indonesia, Mr. Matthew Burton, opened the event. The guest speakers of the talk show were Indonesia’s Sustainable Development Goals Ambassador and the President’s Special Staff, Mr. Billy Mambrasar; the Intermediate Planner of the Ministry of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Agency, Ms. Aisyah Nasution; and the Sanitarian from Puskesmas Tebet Timur, Ms. Umami, as the guest speakers.
For nearly two hours, they highlighted the current water issues, improved and safely managed water in Indonesia, and programs to improve community’s water access with the participants, who were mainly journalists and public influencers.
“We need safe water to live a healthy and productive life,” said Mr. Matthew Burton when delivering a speech. He also reminded that lack of or limited access to water will bring deteriorating impacts to the communities, such as diarrhea in children. Diarrhea is known as one of the leading causes of death among children.
Similarly, Ms. Tri Dewi Virgiyanti, explained that the Indonesian government has several programs to achieve 100% access to improved water access and 15% safe water in 2024, such as community-based water for rural, urban water, financing scheme, and water safety plan. Ms. Tri Dewi Virgiyanti also requested the public influencers and journalists to educate the communities on the importance of water treatment, conservation, and protection to achieve the water access targets.
Mr. Billy Mambrasar hopes that the government will impose strict rules to the private sector and communities who dispose of untreated waste to the environment. He also hopes there is cooperation between government and the private sector for advancing water technologies and incentives for the companies that have implemented the technology.
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