Water and Sanitation in Emergencies

Why focus on water and sanitation?

Preventative Health

Common Diseases related to WatSan

Diarrhoea (common, acute, bloody/mucus, cholera, typhoid) Bilharzia, Hepatitis, river blindness Worm infestations, scabies, other skin diseases, trachoma Malaria, Dengue, yellow fever Parasite infestations, bubonic plague, Hemorrhagic fevers Danger of contamination from medical waste Danger of contamination from dead bodies Water stress/civil unrest from lack of adequate & equitable

distribution

Diarrhoeal Diseases

Trauma (Injury)

Measles

Malnutrition

Malaria

Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI)

Causes of Death in Emergencies (Worldwide)

Transmission of diarrhoeal diseases

Hand-to-mouth disease: dysentery

Water borne disease: cholera

0 10 20 30 40

Effectiveness of Hardware and Hygiene Interventions in

Reducing Diarrhea Morbidity

Inte

rve

nti

on

Median reduction (%)

Source: Esrey et al. 1991; Hutley et al. 1997.

Primary sanitary barriers

ToiletsHand-washing (critical times)Water treatment and water handlingFood hygiene

How do We Prevent Diarrhoeal Disease?

Unsafe water kills 6,000 children every day (1/15 sec)

1 Billion people lack a basic water supply

Only live 3 days without drinking water

Lack of water supply denies all people of dignity, energy and time.

Water

Sanitation & Hygiene

2.4 billion people or 2/5 of the world’s population

Simple act of washing hands with soap and

water can reduce diarrhoeal disease by 1/3

Hygiene related illness cost developing

countries 5 billion working days per yr.

Water Supply Sanitation Hygiene Promotion Vector Control Solid Waste Management Drainage

“WatSan” Sector

Water Supply

Sanitation

Health and hygiene Promotion

Vector Control

Solid Waste Management

Drainage