Abstract
Worldwide, what is responsible for killing the most children each year? AcuteRespiratory Infection (2 million children). What is second? Diarrhoea (1.8 million children). Thisstatistic does not include the additional 300,000 adults who also die from this preventable condition.Diarrhoea kills more children that malaria, HIV and measles combined (UNDP, 2006). “In most ofthe developing world, unclean water is a greater threat to human lives than violent conflict. Rightnow almost half the population of the developing world suffer from diseases because of dirty waterand inadequate sanitation” (Peace Child International, 2006). While the Millennial DevelopmentGoals (MDG) and the United Nations provide an overarching view of the existing situations bycountry, the initial goal of this project is to investigating the specific existing conditions in ruralIndonesia, especially Southern Kalimantan, and how they relate to the MDG (UNDP, 2003).This will in turn allow site specific proposals in partnership with the local communities that areculturally and financially feasible. They will then be designed and constructed in conjunctionwith community education. The preliminary proposal is to use stormwater harvesting to providea clean water source in replacement of their current sources; seasonal wells, contaminated riversand swamps. In conjunction is the proposal to eliminate their exposure to open sewage throughsimple septic systems. Through these processes, the goal is to decrease the preventable cases ofsickness through increased access to clean up and decreased exposure to open sewage. This in turnwill reduce the associated deaths due to diarrhoea (WHO/UNICEF, 2009). The project is still inthe initial research and development stages as of March 2012 with the first project hoping to beundertaken by the end of 2012.
Highlights
1.1 BackgroundOf the 5 billion cases of diarrhoea in the world each year, 1.8 million children perish (UNDP 2006)
At least 300 out of 1,000 Indonesians suffer from water-borne diseases, including cholera, dysentery, and typhoid fever, according to the Ministry of Health (Asian Development Bank, March 2006)
Indonesia is only second in the world to India, relative to the number of people, consistently exposed to open sewer (66 million) (WHO/UNICEF, 2009)
Summary
Of the 5 billion cases of diarrhoea in the world each year, 1.8 million children perish (UNDP 2006). The percentage of Indonesia’s population without sustainable access to an improved water source is 23% (UNDP, 2006). Note that an improved water source still may not be an acceptable water source. While this reality in Indonesia leads to many different consequences, one that is alarming is that within the economically poorest 20% of the population in Indonesia (in 2005), the mortality rate for children under 5 was over 10%. Open sewers is a common source for the contamination and spread of much disease and sickness. Access to clean water and sanitation can reduce the risk of a child dying by as much as 50% (UNDP, 2006)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
