World Water Day

2001/03/22 Elhuyar Zientzia

• Osasuna
• Ingurumena

The World Health Organization (WHO) proposes to reflect on the problems posed by water shortages in many countries. Water and health are directly related and it is important to note that it increases the need for adequate and safe water to protect both humans and the planet.

WHO warns in the report that it has just published the need to take concrete measures. More than two million people a year, most children, die from diarrhea caused by contaminated water, one million die from malaria transmitted by the anofele mosquito that grows in dirty waters and, in China, 30 million have chronic fluorosis and 1.5 million hepatitis A. The improvement of quality and the cleaning of water significantly prevents these and other water-related diseases. Malaria, schistosomiasis and vector affections can be controlled by adequate planning and management of water resources.

On the other hand, avoiding diseases alleviates poverty. Countries that suffer from water shortages or inadequate hygiene are the poorest in the world. The first step to help them would be to create the necessary means for these countries to have clean and safe water so that once the minimum levels of health have been reached they can be developed.

In fact, safe water, cleaning and hygienic education are fundamental human rights that protect health. Its fulfillment increases the sense of social welfare and increases economic and social productivity.