The 2006 UN Human Development Report, released in Cape Town on November 9, 2006 stated that nearly two million children die every year caused by a growing water and sanitation crisis.
According to the report, entitled Beyond scarcity: Power, poverty and the global water crisis: 1.8 million children die from diarrhea each year that could be prevented with access to clean water and a clean toilet.
The Importance of Hygiene and Sanitation
It is clear from the endless research available today that diarrhea prevention and diarrhea treatment are top priority health issues. The mass of evidence collectively demonstrates the causal relationship between poor hygiene practices and the spread of deadly diseases. Globally, there are nearly 1.7 billion cases of diarrheal disease every year. Among the poor and especially in developing countries, diarrhea is a global mass murderer. Annually, diarrhea kills 2.2 million people, most of whom were children under 5 years of age.
The knowledge and application of improved hygiene and sanitation practices have a measurable health benefit on the personal and community levels. Preventive strategies ultimately hold the greatest potential to reduce the global burden of diarrheal sicknesses. Knowledge of effective, low cost hygiene practices is critical to relieve the health and sanitation crisis.