(Baonghean)Quynh Di is one of the "hot spots" for environmental pollution, especially the pollution of drinking water sources. There are many causes for this situation, but most stem from the living habits of the local people.

Quynh Di commune currently has 1,550 households with 6,038 inhabitants. The people mainly live by farming and livestock breeding. Of these, the two fishing hamlets of Phu Loi 1 and Phu Loi 2 account for 1,968 inhabitants; this is a traditional area for processing fish sauce and seafood. Wastewater from processing is discharged directly without any treatment. Furthermore, due to limited land area and the lack of fertilizer use, residents in these two hamlets do not prioritize the construction of household sanitation facilities. According to a report by the People's Committee of Quynh Di commune, previously, about 50% of households had sanitation facilities, but only about 25% of these facilities met hygiene standards. These living habits and production characteristics are the main reasons why the water environment in Quynh Di commune is becoming increasingly polluted. The health of the people is threatened, especially with the increasing risk of cholera and dengue fever.

Faced with this situation, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Association, in coordination with the Nghe An Provincial Farmers' Association, implemented a project to build environmental sanitation facilities in coastal communes, including Quynh Di commune. Following a survey of the local situation, the project was launched in June 2011 with a support budget of 3 million VND per facility. To date, 20 households have built self-contained sanitation facilities, ensuring environmental hygiene. Typical examples include the sanitation facilities of Mr. Pham Huu Doi's family and Ms. Van Thi Nhung's family in Phu Loi 1 village. With a budget of approximately 20 million VND, the family now has a clean toilet, ensuring environmental hygiene and health safety. Ms. Nhung happily said, "Having a proper sanitation facility has made our family's life much more comfortable than before; we no longer worry about diseases."

Mr. Ho Ngoc Man, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Quynh Di commune, said: "Although the support capital is very limited compared to the construction cost, the people have actively responded and the project has initially yielded positive results. This is a good sign of the solidarity between the government and the people of Quynh Di commune and shows that people's awareness of environmental protection has clearly progressed."

In addition to the 20 pilot households, the program will be expanded to the entire commune.

Nguyen Thi Quynh