March 22, 2008

World Water Day falls on March 22^nd every year. The theme this year is 'Water and Sanitation for Life'. It is also a time when the world takes stock of the looming water crisis, and confronts the 'watershed' issue- 'Is the world running out of water'?

As we grapple with matters pertaining to water, it brings us to the subject of water contamination. It is common knowledge that diarrhea, one of the greatest illnesses plaguing the teeming millions worldwide, causing many million deaths annually, is caused by poor sanitation and consumption of contaminated water.

According to Jon Lane, Executive Director- Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council, 'Every 20 minutes we spend sitting in our offices, organizing meetings, passing resolutions and discussing policies, a child dies as a direct result of poor sanitation.'

This mammoth problem can be prevented only if the sanitation ills in the world are solved. It is for this reason that the year 2008 has been declared as the ‘International year of Sanitation’ and forms the theme for the World Water Day, 2008.

Amidst all the economic development and technological advances, it is a day that reminds us of the scores of women in different parts of the world, who tread great lengths, and spend many hours each day to collect water. The magnitude of the problem is palpable in the poignant documentary, 'One water', which is a realistic depiction of the impending water crisis threatening to consume the planet. Experts see it coming, that the greatest wars in the future will be over this precious, life sustaining resource – Water!

Seven Murky statistics About Water

• Safe drinking water, which forms the basis of life, is not available to about one billion people worldwide.

• A child loses its life every 15 seconds due to water - related diseases.

• 1.8 million in a year die due to diarrhea.

• 88 percent of all diseases in the world is due to poor sanitation.

• 2.6 billion people court disease due to abysmal sanitation.

• According to the WHO, 50% of the hospitalizations worldwide are due to water- related diseases.

• Poor sanitation is recognized as the greatest enemy, unleashing a trail of destruction worse than any war.

Objectives of World Water Day:

'The coming 12 months provides us with a platform to prioritize sanitation on the international community's agenda.' -UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon

The World Water Day initiatives will seek to iron out the challenges for access to safe water and proper sanitation on a world-wide basis. This is proposed to be carried out by the following measures:

1. Ensuring that the world's poorest have access to the basic amenities of safe water and sanitation.

2. Implementing strategies on water conservation and re-use

3. Developing of sustainable and economically viable water and sanitation facilities worldwide.

4. Focusing on issues pertaining to school sanitation.

Gaping Hole

Water and sanitation are two sides of the same coin, and are indispensable for national health.