Water and sanitation crisis claims more lives  through disease than any war claims through guns.  Over 3.6 million people die each year from water borne diseases.  The lack of clean water and sanitation are major issues in developing.  It is sad to note that Ancient Romans had better access to clean water and sanitation than many people today.  Over 2.5 billion people lack access to improved sanitation, defined as a sanitation facility that ensures hygienic separation of human excreta from human contact; almost 1.2 billion people who have no facilities at all.  More people in the world have access to cell phones than access to a toilet.  Diarrhea remains the second leading cause of death among children under five globally.  About 1.5 million children die each year due to diarrhea.  Diarrheal diseases kill more young children than AIDS, malaria and measles combined.  Providing safe water could reduce incidence of diarrheal disease by an estimated 21% while improved sanitation could reduce diarrheal disease by 37.5%.  Sadly, in most cases it is institutional barriers, such as lack of education archaic cultural practices and politics, that prevent developing safe drinking water and good sanitation practices.  These statistics can be changing institutional framework and by educating and empowering women.

Institutional framework for identifying issues and responses for ensuring safe drinking water and sanitation

244th National Meeting (2012)

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