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Launch of Inter-American Water Day 2003,
Ministry of Health Barbados
October 3, 2003
Remarks by the Media/Communications Advisor
Caribbean Program Coordination (CPC) office
Pan American Health, World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO)
The Caribbean Program Coordination Office of the Pan
American Health Organization is very pleased to collaborate with the
Inter-American Water Day team in Barbados to launch the Barbados Schools Water
Conservation Competition.
We at PAHO regard the Inter American Water Day as an
opportunity for the celebration of water. And so we are more than happy to join
with our partners in promoting initiatives like these to raise the country’s
awareness with regard to the importance of conserving this valuable natural
resource we call water.
We believe that it is especially important that we protect
this resource for our coming generations. This simple reality is the basis for
the Barbados Schools Water Award that PAHO is providing this year in celebration
of water, for the top three schools in the competition.
The winning school will receive a Sony Handycam Camcorder.
The first runner-up school receives a 21 inch Samsung
Colour Television set and video recorder; and the second runner-up, receives a
Sony Cyber-shot Digital Still Camera.
We trust that the winning schools will use the equipment
provided in enhancing their water and other health promotion activities.
But there are no losers, each school that scores well in
this competition will be awarded a Special Merit Certificate, and in fact each
participating school receives a Certificate of Participation.
We applaud the Ministries of Health and Education, and the
Barbados Water authority for collaborating on this activity. We see this as an
excellent tool for promoting water conservation awareness in this important
community which is consistent with the Millennium Goals set in 2000 at the
Summit of the United Nations, that incorporates environmental sustainability,
specifically targeting drinking water and sanitation.
PAHO realizes that the Millennium targets set are by no
means easy. But these can be attained if they are translated into nationally
owned, and driven strategies. The Inter American Water Day provides an
opportunity for all sections of our community, including governmental
organizations, private sector, schools, and communities in general to
participate in the effort and specifically these celebrations, by working
together for water safety in our country and region. In so doing we will have a
good chance of ensuring our goal of achieving and maintaining a clean, healthy,
and productive life, living in a protected and healthy environment.
Finally, good luck to all the participating schools and we
look forward to working further with the coordinating team on this project in
celebration of water and by extension in celebration of health
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