September 4, 2002 -- Water scarcity is a huge issue, but just simple improvements in sanitation can stop people dying, stressed an expert at the World Summit in Johannesburg Monday.
"Diarrhea, which is linked to poor sanitation, causes about two million deaths each year, mostly among children under the age of five, but we can improve this situation if we want to," said Brian Reed, Knowledge Pool spokesperson, at the WaterDome.
According to Brian Reed from global water, sanitation and environmental health network WELL, the actions required to make a difference are all very simple and often being overlooked.
"For example, encouraging people to wash their hands could save one million children a year. This is a sort of do-it-yourself vaccine against diarrhoea where all you need to add is soap and water."
Another simple solution he cites is to cover a pit with a concrete slab to improve a basic latrine.
"This slab can be easily cleaned, unlike the earthen or wooden alternatives, making the toilet look and smell better, while reducing the transmission of disease," said Brian Reed. "This makes the latrine a household asset rather than an embarrassment.
"Also, minor improvements to hand-dug wells can improve the reliability and quality of water dramatically. For the cost of a single borehole supplying water to 200 people, improvements to traditional sources can improve life for 10 to 20 times that number of people." Although the technologies may be simple, Brian Reed is aware that there is a desperate need to spread knowledge.
"I am calling for an integrated approach where water supply, sanitation and education on hygiene practice are all addressed together," he said. "Technology by itself may not bring about meaningful improvements in people's lives.
"We need to realize that people matter more than science, so the technology and social issues must be addressed together. The public and private sectors should work together and we should be aware that it is not just a health issue."
According to Brian Reed, studies have shown that enhanced water supply and sanitation can also improve people's quality of life. "Better facilities save people time, reduce the burden of daily life and emancipate women," he explained. "In addition, they reduce the basic cost of living and increase income, either directly through the development of a service people are willing to pay for, or indirectly through using water in business or agriculture.
"The economic benefits are also very far-reaching. For example, the poor often pay more for water than richer neighbors, money that often comes out of their food budget, so cheaper water means better fed families.
"And removing the cause of water-related illnesses reduces unnecessary expenditure on medicines, keeps people in work and reduces the risk of families becoming impoverished."
About the Knowledge Pool
The Knowledge Pool, an exhibit booth at the WaterDome, brings together a group of global networks and partnerships helping to share leading edge expertise on water and sanitation with developing countries.
Knowledge Pool partners adopt both modern and traditional communication techniques to supply valuable information which is used to improve access to clean water and deliver better livelihoods for the poor. This has had a positive effect on the lives of millions of people. Since Rio, Knowledge Pool partners have led in the development of major breakthroughs which are helping to improve our understanding of the causes and remedies for poverty.
The Knowledge Pool booth in the WaterDome is sponsored by the UK government (DFID) and its partners.
The WaterDome is a major parallel event, at the United Nations' World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), taking place from August 28 - September 3, 2002 in Johannesburg.
