World Water DayWater and sanitation go

hand-in-hand with adequate housing

As you read this, half of the world’s hospital beds are filled with people su�ering

from a water-related disease. Today, this 22nd annual World Water Day, there are

748 million people who do not have access to clean water and sanitation. Water is

essential to human health and, with the rapid growth of cities around the world,

access to clean water and sanitation is needed now more than ever. Each year in

developing countries, 2.2 million people, most of whom are children, die from

diseases associated with lack of access to safe drinking water, insu�cient sanitation,

and poor hygiene.

As WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) strategies gain momentum around the

globe, more people are recognizing that mission of ending poverty housing

worldwide goes hand-in-hand with the goal of providing ready access to safe,

drinkable water and e�ective sanitation and hygiene.

By improving health conditions for the millions of impoverished people around the

globe, WASH strategies also reduce poverty. Studies show that investments in water

and sanitation services result in substantial economic gains. For example, the World

Health Organization estimates the return on investment of attaining universal

access to improved sanitation at 5.5 to 1.

Access to safe clean water and improved sanitation are an essential element of

decent housing. Recognizing this, Habitat for Humanity Malawi is implementing a

pilot WASH project in low income area of Kauma in Lilongwe district by facilitating

provision water kiosks and ecological sanitation (Ecosan) latrines. Through this

project, approximately 6,250 people will access portable water through water kiosks

while 130 families will have improved hygiene through the use of Ecosan latrines.

Since 1990, through the work of like-minded organizations and governments, over

2 billion people have gained access to improved sources of drinking water, 116

countries have met the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target for water, and

more than half of the world’s population now enjoy a piped water connection in

their homes.

While great strides have clearly been made, the 748 million people still lacking

access to improved drinking water remind us that there is still much that remains to

be done. According to the World Bank, the world could provide every person

worldwide with safe water and sanitation at a cost of $107 billion a year over a

five-year period.

For this year’s World Water Day, let’s commit to ensuring access to clean water and

sanitation worldwide. The theme for world water day this year in Malawi is

SUSTAINABLE WATER DEVELOPMENT TRANSLATING FROM VISION TO ACTION.

The first of many steps toward making clean water available for all is

awareness-raising. This year, we invite you to wear blue and promote #Blue4Water

on social media, spreading the word that every human being deserves a decent

place to live. By taking action to support WASH e�orts, we can make that happen.

AMOS KALAWENATIONAL DIRECTOR