By Morgen Makombo sikwila
The effects of poor water supplies and sanitation can have far-reaching and ill-fated effects for those without proper sanitary facilities; required to use unsanitary toilet facilities and drink, bathe, cook with and use contaminated water.
Many water-borne pathogens and infections are spread via contaminated water and contribute to issues like diarrhoea and Cholera which have lethal effect on people-particularly the young and very old. For example, diarrhoea is the second leading cause of death in children under five, which is mostly preventable by clean, pottable water and sanitation.
Globally, 3.5 billion people lack access to safely managed sanitation services. In some instances, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) help countries address the sanitation challenges: ending open defecation, improving health service and closing the loop from access to sanitation facilities to sustainable management of wastewater.
Almost 8% of the local population in the world practices open defecation. Despite significant gains- the majority of people gained access to improved toilets or latrines between 2000 and 2020 as sanitation was one of the most off track Millennium Developmental Goals (MDGs) globally. Today, 1.7 billion people still lack even basic services. Among those, 580 million share improved sanitation facilities with other households, counted as “limited” services and 616 million use “unimproved” facilities. The data reveal pronounced disparities, with two thirds of the people who still lack even basic services live in rural areas. Nearly half of them live in sub-Saharan Africa. The world missed the MDG target by almost 700 million people.
In addition to the challenges of providing many millions of rural households with adequate sanitation, the continues to urbanize, cities and small towns will increasingly bear the burden of poor sanitation-with the majority of urban dwellers lacking access to basic sanitation services and in most instances some urban residents practising open defecation.
The benefits of tracking the challenges of sanitation are manifold. Improved sanitation leads to lower disease burden, improved nutrition, reduced stunting, improved quality of life, increased attendance of girls at schools, healthier living environments, better environment stewardship, increased job opportunities and wages, improved competitiveness of cities and economic and social gains to society more broadly.
Studies have shown that ending open defecation can save children’s lives by reducing disease transmission, stunting and under-nutrition, which are important for childhood cognitive development and future economic productivity. Without adequate sanitation facilities, girls and children with disabilities are more likely to drop out of school or are vulnerable to attacks while seeking privacy and convenience.
A lack of sanitation holds back economic growth. Poor sanitation costs millions to some countries. The economic losses are mainly driven by premature deaths, the cost of healthcare treatment, lost time and productivity finding access to sanitation facilities. Pollution resulting from improper disposal and treatment of wastewater and domestic faecal sludge also affect both water sources and ecosystems. Faecal sludge and wastewater can provide valuable resources (water, nutrients, soil conditioner, briquettes and energy) and economic opportunities especially in urban settings and in water-scarce environment.
By giving people the right education and products to promote healthy sanitation practices, the quality of life for millions of people can be vastly improved. The biggest cause of poor sanitation globally is simply lack of education. Even the simple act of washing hands and proper disposal of human excreta regularly can have a huge impact on the overall health of communities.
Communities that suffer ill health and poor sanitation related issues are more likely to spend less time working because of health related issues and be required to spend more money on healthcare related to this. The investment of proper sanitation helps to create economic returns, can create jobs and contributes to the overall economy of communities.
Morgen Makombo Sikwila
MSc Peace and Governance
BSc Counselling
Diploma in Environmental Health
Certificate in Marketing Management
morgensikwilam@gmail.com (0772823282)
