Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability

Target 7c: Reduce by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation

- 7.9 Proportion of population using an improved sanitation facility

THE SAD SITUATION

In areas where water is scarce and plumbing doesn't exist, communities are forced to share communal pit latrines, which are little more than holes in the ground framed by planks of wood. The even more unhygienic alternative is called a flying toilet, which simply consists of a plastic bag to hold the faecal matter; these litter many slums. Both forms of ‘toilet’ pose huge risk of disease which in many cases can prove fatal.

THE HARSH FACTS

The ancient Romans had better water quality than half the people alive now More than 80% of sewage in developing countries is discharged untreated, polluting

rivers, lakes and coastal areas Lack of safe sanitation is the world’s biggest cause of infection Only 63% of the world’s population have access to improved sanitation - defined as

a sanitation facility that ensures hygienic separation of human excreta (ie faeces & urine) from human contact 2.5 billion people lack access to improved sanitation, including 1.2 billion people who have NO facilities at all

THE HUMAN IMPACT

Every 20 seconds a child dies from a water-related illness Diarrhea remains the 2nd leading cause of death among children under five globally Nearly 1 in 5 child deaths – about 1.5 million each year – is due to waterborne diseases (they kill more young

children than AIDS, malaria and measles combined) 50% of the world’s hospitalisations are due to water-related diseases Thousands of 6th graders (aged 10-11) drop out of school each year due to inadequate sanitation/water insecurity Nearly all deaths (98%) due to water-borne related disease occur in the developing world

THE FINANCIAL PICTURE

Invest $100,000,000 budget in improving sanitation. At approx. $30 each, we could provide 3,333,333 safe toilets

THE SAFE SANITATION SOLUTION

I propose building twin-pit latrines because they are cost effective and, in developing countries, provide safe toilet facilities without using up precious fresh water supplies.

Twin-pit latrines can be quickly and easily built by the communities they serve and are an effective, easy-to-maintain toilet where the waste is sealed to remove pathogens before being composted and used as manure. When one pit is full, it’s closed and the other is used. After 1 year, the first pit can be safely emptied and contents then used as manure (and it’s totally free-of-charge!).

THE BIG BENEFITS

Our improved sanitation facilities could reduce diarrhea-related deaths in young children by more than one-third – that equates to approximately 5 million children’s lives that could easily be saved each year

Investment in safe sanitation, and hence improved water supplies, would result in 272 million more school attendance days a year

Investment in safe sanitation contributes to economic growth (much needed in developing countries). For each $1 invested, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates a return of $3 - $34 depending on the region

The value of deaths averted, based on discounted future earnings, would amount to $3.6 billion a year

This proposal offers multiple benefits: not only does it help to address Goal 7 of the Millennium Goals as shown above, but it also supports Goal 2 (Achieve Universal Primary Education), Goal 4 (Reduce Child Mortality) and Goal 6 (Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases). It is successful on many levels and is quick and easy to implement.

* BY VOTING FOR THIS PROPOSAL YOU WILL HELP TO SAVE MILLIONS OF

CHILDREN’S LIVES*