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| How to help solve the 1.5m child deaths from dirty water |
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| Written by Tom Clougherty | |||
| Thursday, 28 September 2006 | |||
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A new report from UNICEF says that in excess of 1.5 million children under five die each year because they lack access to safe water and sanitation. They give the example of Niger, where only 13% of the population has access to toilets of an acceptable standard. The impact of this is not only felt in public health, where it is a major contributory factor in cholera outbreaks. UNICEF’s report also suggests that it has a serious impact on education: children have difficulty attending school because they have to walk long distances to fetch water, and girls are deterred by the lack of separate and hygienic toilets. That access to water and better sanitation are vital elements of the fight against poverty is undeniable, and the UN’s goal of halving the number of people without access to clean drinking water and sanitation by 2015 is a noble one. But well-meaning NGOs often make such an outcome more difficult by campaigning against the privatisation of water provision. They make the mistake of comparing a "perfect" state system (which is, of course, unachievable) with the inevitably imperfect efforts of the market. In practice however, private sector management and investment in water systems has been very successful, increasing access to water, cutting disease by introducing sewerage systems, and reducing prices for ordinary people - a stark contrast with the efforts of the state system. If the international community’s objectives are to be achieved, it is vital that results are put before ideology.
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written by Jim on September 28, 2006 Er, that's 1.5 million, not 1.5 billion. Still terrible, obviously, just not SO terrible. You're welcome. Thanks...
written by Alex Singleton on September 29, 2006 ...for pointing that out. It's been corrected. |
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