LALITPUR:The Public Health Section of Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City (LSMC), Environment and Public Health Organisation and Urban Environment Management Society today provided drinking water purification materials to public schools and health clinics in Lalitpur.

The distribution of the water purification materials was a part of Partnership for Safe Water Campaign, which is supported by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) and Bottlers Nepal on the occasion of World Hand Washing Day 2009. The day is celebrated on October 15.

The underprivileged people in the urban areas were given away the materials so as to provide them with safe drinking water and sanitation facilities.

The water purification materials include water filters, SODIS bottles and Piyus to public schools, clinics and public health offices in 22 wards of Lalitpur.

Lalit Bikash Lower Secondary School, Tripadhma School, Krishi Udaya Primary School, Kumbeshwor Lower Secondary School, Mahalaxmi Lower Secondary School, Swatantra Sikshya Sadan, among others schools, were those receiving the materials. Binod Prakash Singh, executive officer, LSMC, said that people were still ignorant about the sanitation measures undertaken. He blamed on the age-old habit and traditional beliefs as giving rise to infections.Maheshwor Sharma of the Lalitpur District Education Office said schools should make children aware about sanitation.