Challenges

• 1.1 Billion lack access to safe water & 2.4 Billion lack basic sanitation
• 4 Million die annually (80%<5yrs)
• 30% of common recurrent diseases are Water and Sanitation related
• 100 Billion US$ productivity lost annually
• Women in Africa and Asia walk an average of 6 kilometers a day to collect water

The need for water also goes beyond the basic need to drink and eat. We need water to maintain hygenic conditions that promote health. So the water must be of adequate quality as well as quantity. The primary contaminant of water is feces, leading to a cycle of infection, diahrea, and death in the developing world. Water-borne diseases include diahrea, typhoid, viral hepatitus A, cholera, and dysentery. Inadequate quanitities of water lead to water-washed diseases. Furthermore there are water-based and water-related vector borne diseases such as malaria, schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis and Japanese encephalitis. Additionally water is often hard to find, far from homes, contaminated by too much arsnic and floride, and polluted by industry.

The impacts can be severe:

• 4 billion cases of diahrrea worldwide per year leading to about 2.3 million deaths (mostly children under 5) (water, sanitation, and hygience can reduce this number by 25 to 35%
• Intestinal worms can lead to malnutrition, anemia, retarded growth. They can be controlled through improved santitation.
• Globally about 200 million people are infected with schistosomiasis. 20 million of them suffer severe consequences. See the Schistosomiasis site for more information: http://www.schisto.org/

The WHO and UNICEF promote handwashing with soap, safe disposal of children's feces, and safe handling and storage of water as having the greatest impacts.

Hurdles to Addressing the Challenges

We lack well-coordinated global efforts. Mapping current needs and efforts would help define the gaps and overlaps. Additionally, we need more well coordinated programs that provide information on hygiene as well as providing wells and water access. Putting in wells near schools can help with other issues like education, since the child can both get water and go to school on the same trip. There are few surveys of the water quality in Africa and Asia, so arsnic and other water concerns could be an issue.

The Red Cross Water site provides current information and news on their efforts.

 

last updated 25 May 2006