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Urban
development research
id21
is the free development research reporting service, bringing you UK-sourced
research on developing countries
Addressing
the global sanitation crisis
Up to 2.6 billion people do not
have a clean and safe place to defecate. Untreated waste contaminates
food and pollutes rivers. More than 80 percent of people in developing
countries become ill because they lack clean water and their waste is
not disposed of safely. A focus on the 'sanitation' aspect of water
and sanitation programmes is needed to achieve the Millennium Development
Goal target of halving the proportion of people without access to basic
sanitation.
November 19 is World
Toilet Day.
Water
and sanitation mapping in Africa and South Asia
Mapping provides clear information on access to water and sanitation
in poor countries. This information can be used by citizens to demand
better services and by local governments to improve service delivery.
What lessons can be learnt from the use of mapping in WaterAid's country
programmes?
Sanitation
and hygiene progress in South Asia
Almost a billion South Asians lack access to safe sanitary facilities.
Despite new policies and funding mechanisms, sanitation is difficult
to get right. Increased efforts could result in more unused or unsafe
latrines. Sanitation is not just about building facilities; it is also
about working with communities to ensure sustainable and hygienic use.
Encourage
families in Ghana to install home latrines
In Ghana, three-quarters of the population lack decent sanitation. Poor
sanitation is the cause of many life-threatening diseases, including
diarrhoea, and the lives of many children could be saved if latrines
were installed in their homes. What factors affect whether families
in Ghana have installed their own toilet?
Ethiopia
addresses challenges in latrine building and hygiene
Poor hygiene and sanitation are the main causes of death in southern
Ethiopia. The Bureau of Health has now introduced a successful strategy
in Mirab Abaya and Alaba woredas (or districts) to build latrines and
teach people about the importance of sanitation and hygiene.
Practical
advice on school sanitation in Africa
Lack of sanitation facilities prevents many children, especially girls,
from attending school. The health and well-being of pupils and staff
is greatly enhanced if there are enough clean water and sanitation facilities
and everyone washes their hands with soap. Education planners must make
sanitation central to effective school management.
Human
excrement: the unmentionable global crisis
Although 2008 is the International Year of Sanitation, 40 percent of
the world's population, 2.6 billion people, have nowhere to relieve
themselves in dignity. Instead, they are forced to use alleyways, waste-tips,
river banks, railway lines and fields. Massive improvement in health
and human dignity could be achieved by the safe disposal of excreta.
More
from IDS Knowledge Services
British
Library for Development Studies water subject guide
Livelihoods
Connect Hot Topic: Community Led Total Sanitation
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