Diseases associated with poor water and sanitation: hazards, prevention, and solutions.

Abstract

This paper examines one of the most staggering challenges facing the mankind, the challenge to conquer diseases associated with poor water and sanitation. Although rapid strides have been made in the last decade of the last century to provide improved water supply and sanitation, the world is still rampant with diseases. More than 1.1 billion individuals lack access to improved water supply and 2.4 billion lack access to improved sanitation in a world that boasts of human rights and sustainable development. The paper details the various types of diseases associated with water and suggests preventions and solution and also examines international development targets and the number of likely deaths from diseases associated with water. Even if the set targets are met successfully, an estimated 40 to 58 million lives would still be lost by the target year of 2015, while the massive efforts of international agencies and governments would be able to salvage an estimated 15 to 22 million lives. The threat of diseases associated with poor water qualities and services makes a fitting case for world resources, finances, and expertise to be focused and diverted to the Water and Sanitation (WATSAN) sector on an unprecedented scale and at a much higher pace than that envisaged in the targets to avoid the large scale death and misery.