Juai the first ODF sub-district in South Kalimantan's Balangan

Regent of Balangan Abdul Hadi together with representative of Health Ministry Dewi Marlina, Chair of YABN Board of Supervisory Mohammad Effendi and Chair of PKK-driving team Sri Huriyati Hadi destroy a miniature of floating latrine, Thursday (September 12, 2024). (ANTARA/Herlina Lasmianti)

Paringin, South Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Collaboration between the District Government of Balangan, South Kalimantan, and Adaro Grup in improving the quality of sanitation and health in Juai Sub-district has paid off.

The sub-district, which covers 20 villages, has achieved the predicate of Open Defecation Free (ODF), the first in Balangan District or also known as "Bumi Sanggam".

"Juai can be a model for other sub-districts to jointly realize Balangan as ODF," Balangan Regent H Abdul Hadi stated here, Thursday.

As the regional head he expressed his gratitude to Adaro Group for actively contributing in realizing Juai as ODF area.

This is an achievement of the joint commitment of Adaro Grup and Balangan government through Pokja (working group) Basalaman in struggling the quality of health and sanitation of the community to be cleaner and healthier.

Chairperson of Adaro Foundation (YABN) Okty Damayanti recalled how hard it was to finally win the status of ODF.

"The team in the field must workd hard to provide understanding to people not to defecate carelessly," Okty told.

Thanks to their solid and strong cooperation, their goal to make Juai free from open defecation was finally realized.

Since the beginning, she added, Adaro has been working together with Balangan government in designing and implementing various programs aimed at enhancing sanitation.

Director General of Disease Prevention and Control at the Ministry of Health Dewi Marlina said that 5,270 heads of family in Juai have committed to stop open defecation.

"This declaration can encourage other sub-district (kecamatan) so that Balangan would be the second ODF district in South Kalimantan," Dewi explained,

Previously, Tabalong District had achieved the first ODF status in South Kalimantan.

The declaration of ODF of Juai Sub-district was marked by destruction of miniature foating latrine by Balangan Regent Abdul Hadi, Health Ministry representative Dewi Marlina, Chairperson of YABN Board of Supervisors Mohammad Effendi, Chairperson of YABN Okty Damayanti and Chairperson of TP-PKK Sri Huriyati Hadi.