Every $1 spent on on improving sanitation in developing countries will have a $9 benefit in terms of economic growth and reduced hospital bills, according to experts participating in the United Nation’s annual World Water Day last week.
In addition, they said spending $10 billion a year would allow the world to reach a 2015 goal for improved sanitation that would result in fewer deaths from diarrhoeal disease, greater educational opportunities for women and children and an increase in productivity in countries where the search for clean water is a central, time-consuming aspect of daily life.
The UN has declared 2008 to be the International Year of Sanitation, reflecting a commitment to reduce the 1.8 million deaths per year attributed to diarrhoeal disease, which results primarily from poor sanitation.
According to a Reuters report, about 200 million tonnes of human waste are discharged untreated into watercourses every year–exposing people to bacteria, viruses and parasites.
According to UN data, achieving the 2015 sanitation goal would add 3.2 billion annual working days worldwide. Women, in particular, who generally spend more time caring for the sick and searching for water, would have more time to devote to other pursuits.
A UN statement said better sanitation would result in more girls staying in school, which would increase female literacy. It added that for every 10% increase in female literacy, a country’s economy can grow by 0.3%.
"You cannot reach the goals on health and education — you can’t keep children in school — if you don’t have water and sanitation," said Clarissa Brocklehurst, head of water and sanitation at the UN children’s fund UNICEF.
"Water and sanitation underlie so much of health, empowerment of women, poverty alleviation. They are key to all of the millennium development goals," Brocklehurst said.
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