Health Hygiene & Sanitation

Lesson 22 : Water (Need, Uses, Sources)

Introduction

Unavailability of safe and wholesome water that is easily accessible, adequate in quantity and readily available throughout the year; is the major cause of ill-health affecting the humanity, especially in developing countries. Water is an environmental factor to all forms of life as well as it plays a role in socio-economic development of human being. Each country should develop its own water resources agency which would collect all pertinent data on water resources, exploitation and hydrogeology. In 1980 the United Nations General Assembly launched the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade (1981-1990), the aim being to provide adequate supply of safe water and sanitation to all people. In 1981, the 34th World Health Assembly in a resolution emphasized that safe drinking water is a basic element of "primary health care" which is the key to the attainment of "Health for All by the year 2000 AD". Water is also integrated with other PHC components because it is an essential part of 'health education, food, nutrition and MCH.