Bhutan achieves 100 per cent Open Defecation Free with access to improved sanitation

Thimphu, November 19 2022: Following the nationwide coverage of access to improved sanitation facilities, Bhutan is Open Defecation Free (ODF), the Ministry of Health declared today during the observation of World Toilet Day in Thimphu.

A total of 76 gewogs from 12 dzongkhags - Bumthang, Chukha, Gasa, Haa, Paro, Pemagatshel, Punakha, Samtse, Sarpang, Thimphu, Trashigang and Zhemgang achieved 100 percent ODF this year, taking Bhutan’s ODF coverage to 100 per cent.

During the observation of World Toilet Day in 2020, Health Minister Dasho Dechen Wangmo pledged to make Bhutan 100 per cent ODF with access to improved sanitation by the end of 2022. At that time, the national ODF and access to improved sanitation coverage was about 50 per cent with only 103 gewogs achieving 100 percent.

Her Excellency the Health Minister Dasho Dechen Wangmo said the achievement is a significant milestone in Bhutan’s public health journey.

"Since the start of Rural Water Supply Scheme 48 years ago, Bhutan is now 100 per cent open defecation free, which means all homes and families across the country have access to improved toilets,” Lyonpo said. “Accomplishing the status of Open Defecation Free with improved sanitation facilities was not without challenges, but we persevered because we believed that everyone – anyone anywhere across the country, is entitled to sanitation services that provide privacy, ensure dignity and safety, and that are physically accessible and affordable. “

SNV Bhutan’s Regional Programme Manager Gabrielle Halcrow said with the support of RSAHP partners including local CSOs such as Ability Bhutan and Bhutan Network for Empowering Women, there is a shared commitment to not only sustain but continue to progress towards safely managed sanitation for all.

“For SNV, supported by DFAT, it's been a privilege to partner with the MoH to develop and scale up approaches to improving rural sanitation and hygiene since the first pilot activities in 2008 through to what is now a national programme collectively celebrating ending open defecation!” Gabrielle Halcrow said. “We commend the Royal Government of Bhutan for the leadership and commitment - from the villages to the national level, that has progressively realised the human right to sanitation and hygiene across rural Bhutan.  In the process it has made real differences to people’s lives, dignity, and health.”

Bhutan’s achievement shows that sanitation coverage can be achieved through demand promotion with measures in place to support the most vulnerable and that ownership of toilets can be ensured through community engagement. Sustained partnership among government, development partners and CSOs are critical in reaching the last mile to end open defecation. Bhutan Toilet Organization’s SATO technology, which makes upgrading sanitation facilities affordable and convenient was catalytical in accelerating the last mile’s progress to end open defecation.

UNICEF Bhutan Representative Dr Will Parks said ending open defecation is a celebration of the change in the Knowledge, Attitude and Practices among the nation’s people on sanitation and the role the humble toilet plays in saving lives.

“Today, we also celebrate the collective power of enduring partnership. For it was this partnership with the Royal Government of Bhutan, forged 48 years ago, to connect homes with the Ministry of Health’s Rural Water Supply Scheme, that contributed towards improving sanitation in rural Bhutan,” Dr Will Parks said.

“While the impacts of becoming an open defecation free society is visible through the health of people, we must not become complacent with the achievements made thus far. We must put equal effort to sustain and achieve safely managed sanitation which protects our water sources from human waste pollution. Our humble beginning and partnership has brought us this far. Together, we can do more.”

While sustaining the progress, the Ministry of Health and partners will also strengthen the safe management of excreta to ensure the health and wellbeing of the people.

Calling on the nation to keep the water supply system functional and safely manage excreta, Health Minister Dasho Dechen Wangmo said, “We must strive towards making every home in Bhutan fully equipped with sustained, climate change resilient and safely managed sanitation facilities with institutionalized monitoring system.”

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