The needs that concern safe water and proper sanitation are among the luxuries that most people hardly care about. To those of us who live in areas where water and sewerage are available, it is difficult to imagine the magnitude of the problems that exist in areas where water and sanitation are still inadequate. Clean water and sanitation remain a luxury for millions in the developing world, and rural India, in particular; compromised health is but one element of this crisis, as access to water and sanitation fronts a myriad of other socio-economic challenges, such as education and employment. Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) challenges need to be resolved; WASH is important for sustaining population health and development.
The Health Impact: Clean Water as a Foundation for Public Health
Impure water and polluted conditions are major causes of fatal diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis B, and C, typhoid, and polio. A lack of safe water affects sanitation and turns water into a carrier of diseases that reoccur frequently and put pressure on the strain of health care. Efficient water systems will cause a reduced rate of diseases and hence will bring about a reduced health cost and good health of the community.Health Statistics in India:
Access to Clean Water: Only 43% of the population of India has access to safely managed drinking water. Sanitation: India has the largest population practicing open defecation in the world, 54% of rural households have no access to safe sanitation. Neonatal Mortality: A low level of WASH service delivery in healthcare facilities is a factor exacerbating high neonatal mortality in India. Neonatal sepsis, which is mainly acquired in health facilities, contributes to 15% of neonatal mortality. Communicable Diseases: Out of all the communicable diseases in India, 21% are waterborne diseases. Water Depletion: Currently, 480 out of 718 districts in India are experiencing severe water scarcity. Water Contamination: There are 96 million dwellings in India where water is contaminated with fluoride and arsenic.Government Initiatives:
- Swachh Bharat Mission: Achieved universal sanitation coverage in rural areas and provided access to toilets for 110 million households.
- Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): Aim to provide universal access to household tap connections in rural India by 2024.
Education and Sanitation: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty
Education is a pathway out of poverty, but inadequate access to water and sanitation can hinder this route, especially for girls who may miss school to fetch water. Schools without clean water or sanitation create environments where children are vulnerable to illness, causing increased absenteeism and dropouts, particularly among girls. Educational Statistics in India:- Water Access in Schools: 26% of schools in India have limited or no water service.
- Sanitation in Schools: 14% of schools lack access to sanitation and nearly half lack basic handwashing facilities.
- Enrollment: Villages with improved water and sanitation have shown a 4.5% higher school enrollment rate.
- Academic Performance: Students in areas with improved WASH facilities perform better academically, with a 6.3% improvement in reading paragraphs and a 20% improvement in reading stories.
- Time for Education: Girls in villages with improved WASH facilities spend an additional 1-2 hours on homework and private tuition.
- Disease Reduction: Adequate WASH in schools helps reduce the spread of diseases like cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid, and polio.
Economic Impacts: How Unimproved Sanitation Hinders Growth
Poor sanitation does not only impact health and education; it also significantly hampers economic growth. Lost productivity, absenteeism, and the costs associated with treating sanitation-related illnesses all contribute to economic losses. Inadequate sanitation in 2006 cost India an estimated 6.4% of its GDP, or $53.8 billion. Economic Costs of Inadequate Sanitation:- Healthcare Costs: Treating sanitation-related illnesses cost $38.5 billion.
- Time Losses: Inadequate sanitation facilities and distant water sources caused productivity losses valued at $10.7 billion.
- Water Contamination: Drinking water contamination led to an additional $4.2 billion in economic losses.
