Water supply and human well-being Flashcards
What percentage of the world’s population still rely on unimproved water (unprotected wells, springs or rivers and other untreated surface water)?
Around 15%
How many people have no access to improved sanitation facilities?
2.5 billion
How do water and disease interact?
- Unsafe drinking water can spread disease
- Water used for personal and domestic hygiene ( washing hands etc.) can prevent disease transmission
What is the main source of much water-related disease?
The fundamental source of much water-related disease is a lack of sanitation.
What percentage of the ‘global disease burden’ does a lack of sanitation contribute towards?
Approximately 10%
Give three examples of diseases that are transmitted by faecal-oral routes?
- Cholera
- Typhoid
- Dysentery
Why does a lack of sanitation in developing nations lead to people being unable to escape poverty?
Water-related diseases affect people’s ability to work and look after their family and therefore their ability to escape poverty.
Give an example of where new development projects have been implemented that could increase the spread of water-related diseases?
- Rural Burkina Faso
However the potential for the projects to bring economic growth far outweigh the risk of the potential for an increase in the spread of water-related diseases.
Why is education so important in reducing the spread of water-related diseases?
Education would increase the awareness of people regarding how water-related diseases spread.
Give some examples of successful NGO’s and projects that have been implemented to help tackle the problem of water-related diseases?
- Gates Foundation for malaria
- WaterAid’s projects to tackle the root cause of the problem by providing clean water and improved sanitation in rural areas.
How significant is the problem of water-related diseases today?
Water-related diseases are still a significant issue today.
