louis-Georges Arsenault, UNICEF India’s Representative, was on a two-day visit to the State.
During his two days State visit, Arsenault visited villages in Rajnandgaon and took stock of UNICEF’s work in the district in the areas of Health, Water Sanitation and Hygiene.
He also visited Rana Matia village in Chhuria block of Rajnandgaon district to review UNICEF’s efforts to make the village free of open defecation.
Arsenault spoke to the local community and enquired about the construction of toilets and the usage in the Rana Matia village. The initiative is led by the community in the village.
Speaking on the occasion, UNICEF’s India Representative commented : “I am pleased to see the progress and I am confident that the change will be significant in sanitation and hygiene and hoped the community members will use it.”
UNICEF is working in partnership with Rajnandgaon District Administration to demonstrate community approaches to total sanitation in the entire Churia block.
later, Arsenault also visited the Health Sub Centre in Gahira Bhendi village in Chhuria Block to review the preventive and the promotive work done to improve the maternal and child health like, quality Ante Natal Care, IMNCI etc.
He also met the Collector of Rajnandgaon District and highlighted that the administration has played a key role in UNICEF’s efforts to make the district free of open defecation and in providing access to health care facilities for pregnant mothers and infants.
Arsenault later called on the Governor Shekhar Dutt in Raipur and briefed him about UNICEF’s work in the state and thanked him for his continuous support to UNICEF’s work.