58% of Diarrhoeal Diseases Globally Are a Result of Unsafe Water Sources

2.4 billion people globally live without improved sanitation. Contaminated water can lead to numerous diseases including cholera, typhoid, dysentery and many other diarrhoeal diseases. World Health Organization reports that 1.5 million people around the world die from diarrhoeal diseases per year (2012) and 58% of those diseases are the result of unsafe water sources.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released the 4th edition of the Global Analysis & Assessment of Sanitation & Drinking Water (GLAAS) 2017. This year’s edition examines data from 75 countries including surveys that look at the factors related to finance including targets, data availability and measures to reach vulnerable populations. GLAAS strives to provide policy and decision makers with all levels of reliable, accessible, comprehensive and global analysis to make informed decisions on sanitation, hygiene and drinking water.

“This increase in WASH budgets will have positive effects not only in the WASH sector, but also in health, including nutrition, education and economic development. However, more than 80% of countries report insufficient financing to meet national WASH targets, let alone the higher levels of service that are the focus of the SDGs,” states the main findings of the report.

Less than 50% of Laos and Cambodia’s people have access to improved sanitation facilities (2006). In Southeast Asia coverage of improved sanitation facilities increased from 73% in 1990 to 86% in 2006. A WHO 2015 report found that access to clean drinking water in Southern Asia and South-eastern Asia rose by 20%. The same report stated that 61 million people in Southeast Asia alone do not have access to clean drinking water.

Since 1990, 2.6 billion people have gained access to improved water. However, GLAAS 2017 reports that many nations are struggling to find the funding needed to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) put in place for 2030. GLAAS says that 20% of countries show lack of resources to cover the financial gaps met. “Achieving the SDGs will require additional efforts to reach vulnerable groups, including poor populations and communities living in remote areas or informal settlements,” the report adds. Sub- Saharan Africa has seen a $2.1 billion aid commitment decrease between 2012 and 2015.

Hear from health & WASH specialists who will share the latest in innovations and best practice in tackle communicable diseases at the Aid & Development Asia Summit in Myanmar. The Aid and International Development Forum’s two-day summit will be taking place in Nay Pyi Taw on the 14 & 15 of June. It presents a unique opportunity to network with UN, NGOs, research institutes and governmental leaders and discuss matters of water security and supporting WASH practice especially in remote areas and conflict zones in Southeast Asia.

Dr Victor Siang Tze Sim, Deputy Director, Nanyang, Environment and Water Research Institute Community Development (NEWRI)
Dr Bella Monse, Senior Advisor, Fit for School, Technical Assistance for Effective School Health, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
Theitdi Thein, WASH Programme Director, Plan International
Claudine Zukowski, Senior Manager and, Disaster Relief and Donation Coordinator, P&G Children’s Safe Drinking Water Programme, Procter & Gamble

To register and for more information visit: asia.aidforum.org/register/

Image Source: https://blog.worldvision.org/archive/2013/03