Every year, 22 March is observed as World Water Day to appreciate this precious resource and to recommit ourselves in preserving and sustaining water for current and future generations. To recognize the transition from Millennium Development (MDG) to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the theme for 2015 is: ‘Water and Sustainable Development’. It is a very important theme reflecting the role of water in sustaining and improving life through its vital contribution to health, food, industry, ecosystems and energy.
Due to competing and increasing demands on water, which is a finite and constant resource, it is becoming increasingly urgent to use water judiciously. Each sector must take responsibility to keep its use as minimal as possible and to prevent contamination of fresh water systems such as rivers, lakes, ponds and groundwater.
The stresses on water quality and quantity increase every year due to rapid growth in population, urbanization, industrialization and by associated changes in climate. This increase in water stress due to development and climate change are as strongly felt in our Region as anywhere else in the world. All too often, we hear of groundwater depletion in Bangladesh, India and Thailand due to over-extraction, adding to the existing problem of Arsenic contamination of ground water especially in Bangladesh and India. In recent years, Bhutan and Nepal have reported of spring water sources drying, and across many of the South-East Asian countries, valuable water sources are being polluted with chemicals, microbes and heavy metals (for example the Yamuna river in India), as well as the loss of fresh water lenses in island states like the Maldives. All these affect humans either by reducing the availability of fresh water for consumption or by transmission of germs and carcinogenic substances.
As we come to the end of the MDGs, we reflect on the commendable progress that the Region has made in meeting its target for access to improved drinking water. More than 92% of the Region’s population now has access to improved drinking water sources (95% in urban areas and 88% in rural areas). There are big disparities in service levels in the Region with 47% of the urban population, but only 14% of the rural population having piped water on the premises. Everyone else has to collect water from other improved sources such as public taps, bore holes, tube wells and springs.
Looking forward, it is important to note that even with high levels of access to improved water sources, the safety of water is far from guaranteed, unless additional measures are taken to ensure integrity of water supply. Data from national randomized studies in the Region suggest that at least 10% of improved sources may be at high risk of faecal contamination. Therefore, ensuring safety of drinking water becomes critical as we move beyond MDG.
WHO has been supporting Member countries to implement water safety plans to ensure drinking water safety since 2005, with funding support from the Australian government. Major work has been done in Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal, with many good results to share. With the learnings from these, the Regional Office is now supporting other countries to introduce water safety planning. WHO is also supporting Bangladesh and Nepal in developing policies and institutional mechanisms for developing health adaptation to climate change through climate-resilient water and sanitation with DFID funding.
Water safety plans use a risk-based approach in seeking to prevent contamination of water sources, treat contaminated water and prevent recontamination of treated water. The issue of contamination (including re-contamination) is closely linked to economic development and water suppliers and the health sector need to engage with development partners to reduce the stresses on water.
On the World Water Day, I would urge the ministries of health to partner with other sectors such as agriculture, industries, energy and environment to develop healthy public policies and programmes and implement them to ensure that fresh water in adequate quantity and quality is available to all at all times. Without this partnership, the health of the people will be in jeopardy.
A key factor in sustainable development is health care. Water, sanitation and hygiene are key elements for delivering the quality of care in health facilities needed to achieve universal health coverage. Assessments of health facilities in a few countries in the Region show that less than 50% of health centres have adequate water supply, sanitation and hand-washing facilities. I would urge the ministries of health to address this in collaboration with partners.