Vietnam targets all people using clean water by 2045

A national strategy on clean water supply and sanitation in rural areas by 2030 with a vision to 2045 was announced on December 22 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Vietnam.

The main objective of the strategy is that by 2030, 65 percent of the population will have access to clean water that meets the standards set by the Ministry of Health; and 100 percent of households, schools and health stations have basic toilets.

By 2045, 100 percent of people will gain access to clean water and safe and sustainable sanitation; and 50 percent of rural residential areas will have domestic wastewater collection systems.

After 10 years of implementing the national strategy on clean water supply and sanitation in rural areas by 2020, at present, 88.5 percent of residents in rural areas use hygienic clean water, of whom 51 percent gain access to clean water that meets the standards set by the Ministry of Health; and 75 percent of rural households have basic toilets.

The effective implementation of this strategy has helped improve rural residents’ living conditions and boost socio-economic development, and helped many localities achieve the goal of new-style rural area building.

Rana Flowers, UNICEF Representative in Vietnam, said that clean water and rural sanitation are the core issues for developing smart human resources, thereby promoting labour productivity and economic growth. Access to clean water and good sanitation means that people are protected well against the risk of diseases.

Vietnam has made great strides in improving rural water and sanitation, she said./.