Years ago I was at a conference having a conversation with a potential client. The conversation moved on from boring market research to rather more interesting topics.

He asked me a very interesting question. Did I know what was the increase in average human lifespan from beginning to end of the Twentieth Century and why?

Well he explained that it was on average 30 years per person. And the two reasons for this he suggested were antibiotics and clean water.

So I was very interested to cast my beady eyes over a report published by the World Health Organisation, published yesterday, The UN-Water Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water. Granted an uninspiring title but from a worldwide health perspective one of great importance.

I thought I’d share some of the key finds. I don’t suggest you read the stuff WHO have produced because NGOs indulging in self-justification of their own existence in an unedifying sight!

WHO states “2.5 billion men, women and children around the world lack access to basic sanitation services. About 1 billion people continue to practice open defecation. An additional 748 million people do not have ready access to an improved source of drinking-water. And hundreds of millions of people live without clean water and soap to wash their hands, facilitating the spread of diarrhoeal disease, the second leading cause of death among children under five.

Many other water-borne diseases, such as cholera, typhoid and hepatitis, are prone to explosive outbreaks. Poor sanitation and hygiene can also lead to debilitating diseases affecting scores of people in the developing world, like intestinal worms, blinding trachoma and schistosomiasis.”

So we are looking at around one third of our planet’s population which is more than concerning. This is particularly the case in rural areas. They share “While a vast majority of people who lack access to basic sanitation live in rural areas, the bulk of financing continues to benefit urban residents.”

They go on “Investments in water and sanitation yield substantial benefits for human health and development. According (their) estimates, for every dollar invested in water and sanitation, there is a $4.3 return in the form of reduced healthcare costs for individuals and society. Millions of children can be saved from premature death and illness related to malnutrition and water-borne diseases. Adults can live longer and healthier lives”.

All of which may be true but my question is how can we deliver clean water and sanitation to fellow global citizens? It is a serious question and I would be keen to hear your answers in the comments section below.

Many thanks in advance!