A new UN study is indicating that installing toilets and ensuring safe water supplies where needed throughout the world would do more to end poverty and improve world health than any other possible measure.
"Water problems, caused largely by an appalling absence of adequate toilets in many places, contribute tremendously to some of the world's most punishing problems, foremost among them the inter-related afflictions of poor health and chronic poverty," said Zafar Adeel, director of the UN University's Canadian-based International Network on Water, Environment and Health, which released the study on Sunday.
Campylobacteriosis
Campylobacteriosis is a severe form of diarrhea caused by a bacterium Campylobacter jejuni. Causes, symptoms, treatment of campylobacteriosis are discussed in detail.
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Almost 900 million people around the world lack access to safe water supplies, and 2.5 billion people live without access to improved sanitation, according to UN figures.
Diseases due to poor water, sanitation and hygiene account for an estimated 10 percent of the total global burden of illness, and the total number of deaths attributed to poor water, sanitation and hygiene was over 3.5 million in 2002.
Simply improving domestic water supply, sanitation and hand washing with soap can reduce illness rates by more than 25 percent, researchers said.
Source: AFP
RAS/SK
Simply improving domestic water supply, sanitation and hand washing with soap can reduce illness rates by more than 25 percent, researchers said.
Source: AFP
RAS/SK
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine and is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
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 Waterborne DiseasesWaterborne diseases are communicable diseases caused by diseases causing microorganisms in contaminated water. It is more prevalent during floods and in tsunami affected areas. | Advertisement
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Waterborne Disease - Animation
Interactive section of Medindia gives details regarding waterborne disease
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