In Macedonia, 97% of the citizens exercise the right to Equitable Access to Water and Sanitation, but there are still citizens who do not have access to drinking water in accordance with European standards, and only 18% of the population has access to sewage system – was concluded during the two-day conference on access to water and sanitation – “National Policies and Local Action Plans”, held December 4th and 5th in Skopje, organized by CSO Journalists for Human Rights and the Institute for Public Health of Macedonia.

In his speech at the conference, Vice-minister Zoran Sapuric emphasized, among other things, that the right to access to safe drinking water is one of the basic human rights and that without realizing this right, we can not speak about the quality of life of our citizens. As he announced, in the forthcoming period, the Macedonian government and all state bodies, as well as the units of local self-government, will be maximally committed to improving these conditions. The project, which presents detailed water conditions, provides a solid basis for undertaking further measures and activities. Upgrading an integrated water management system requires a multi-sectoral approach and commitment of all stakeholders, as well as the responsibility of all of us for the rational use of water resources.

The fact that in the Republic of Macedonia there is only 18% coverage with quality sewerage network is more than alarming. This was stated by the Deputy Minister of Local Self-Government, Dejan Pavleski, who participated at the Conference on National Policies and Local Action Plans for Equitable Access to Water and Sanitation. According to him, this reality is a result of the long-standing monocentric development of the state and only Skopje and the larger urban centers have provided communal public services at a satisfactory level, and even in the city of Skopje there are huge differences between the city core and the villages.

“Recognizing the problem, the Government in the 2018 budget provided 100 million denars more or over 60%  increased funds for balanced development compared to last year, or in 2018, 6 million euros through the Ministry and the Bureau for Regional Development will be directed towards the development of the planning regions, of which 70% are for the development of the planning regions, 20% for the development of areas with specific development needs and 10% for the development of the villages. All citizens have the right to equal access to public services, regardless of where they live, therefore the policy of the Government is more intensive financing of projects in areas that have been identified as priority, such as water supply, wastewater collection and solid waste storage”, said Pavleski.

And while politicians talk about plans they will do to reduce the consequences of inadequate access to water and sanitation, representatives of the CSO  Journalists for Human Rights say that through self-assessment they have come up with results that they believe will raise awareness at local level about the need for adequate access to water and sanitation.

The team of Journalists for Human Rights, in cooperation with the Institute for Public Health and the Centers for Public Health in Kumanovo, Skopje and Veles, conducted a field survey of urban and rural areas in the three municipalities in the period of four months regarding the self-assessment of access to water and sanitation. The findings of the research report were presented at the conference to representatives of competent ministries, as well as representatives of the three municipalities.

– The data we receive shows that 90% of these municipalities have equitable access to water and sanitation. But there are things that need to be emphasized and need to be improved in the upcoming period. It was surprising that there are no public toilets in Skopje and the other two targeted municipalities, that in rural areas the access to sanitation is inappropriate, especially in schools. Almost no school, except in Veles, has conditions for girls to manage menstrual hygiene, and that in religious buildings in these three municipalities there is almost no access to sanitation, simply toilets are locked – said Natasha Dokovska from the CSO Journalists for human rights.

The preparation of the Self-Assessment Report on Access to Water and Sanitation in Skopje, Kumanovo and Veles was supported by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), in particular the Protocol on Water and Health. Eva Barenberg from UNECE, noted that the analysis led to the conclusion that access to water and sanitation is inadequate for a certain group of people, and that there is worse access to water and adequate sanitation in the rural environment for persons working in the open.

– The aim is to use the conclusions of these three municipalities to improve the situation in the municipalities, but also to be used as a tool to assess the situation of access to water and sanitation at a country level – said Barenberg.

Professor Dr. Mikhail Kochubovski emphasized that the local action plans are being prepared on the basis of the results received, and will be offered to the municipalities in order to be adopted in their work programs.

– We identified the weaknesses in order to eliminate them. From some of the municipalities we have a notice that they want to implement. An upgrade will follow, not only in the three municipalities we have covered, but throughout the Northeast region. There are municipalities that have expressed an interest in conducting the research there as well and bringing them the local action plans that will help them in their work in the interest of public health and reduction of diseases caused or connected to water in relation to sanitation – said Kochubovski.

He pointed out that if all people in the world wash their hands with water and soap, there would be 44% reduction of the number of cases of diarrhea.

– There was a survey conducted by several countries and it showed that in Macedonia there is a high level of personal hygiene maintenance, but if you do not have conditions how will you implement it. That’s why we must ensure hygiene and raise awareness so that it can be practiced”, he said.