Diseases
The lack of safe drinking water and proper sanitaion have become such a huge issue in our world that they now claim more lives and destruction than war, terrorism and weapons of mass destruction combined.
Water related and water borne diseases take millions of lives a year, and in so many cases, the cure is so simple...
Water related disease
Diseases related to bad water usage include diarrhoea, polio and malaria. These diseases are passed simply because individuals are not able to wash their hands enough or wash cooking and eating utensils.
Diarrhoea. To us, an ordinary type of 'illness'. For around 2.2 million people it's a death sentence. Ninety percent of which are children under the age of five.
Malaria. The world's most important parasitic disease. Malaria symptoms can include fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, jaundice and even death. It is transmitted by mosquitoes which breed in fresh or occasionally brackish water. It is contracted by people after being bitten by a malaria infected mosquito.
Polio. A disease that can cause flu-like symptoms and in more serious cases paralysis and even death. It is transmitted through viruses found in stools, so is commonly passed through drinking contaminated water and by not washing hands after using the bathroom.
Trachoma. Is a preventable infection of the eyes that may result in blindness after repeated infection. It affects those who have limited access to fresh water and healthcare. It is easily spread through communities through skin contact. It gives a yellow discharge from the eyes of the infected.
Waterborne diseases
These diseases are due to people using contaminated water sources. Lakes and rivers that are used for drinking and bathing in, are often also defecated in and so the diseases spread. Many parasites also live in the water, leading to massive infections.
Waterborne diseases include Cholera, Hepatitus A, Tuberculosis, Guinea Worm and many more.
Cholera. A disease spread by unsanitary conditions and lack of clean drinking water. It's symptoms include diarrhoea, leg cramps and severe vomiting. Around 200,000 cases are reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) each year.
Hepatitus A. A liver diseases that cause millions of deaths each year, due to ingestion of contaminated water or food.
Tuberculosis. TB causes nearly two million deaths annually and the WHO estimates that nearly one billion people will be infected by 2020 if we do not provide better prevention procedures. It is a disease of the lungs and involves chest pain and a bad cough, along with other symptoms.
Guinea Worm is a disease that occurs mostly in Africa. It is caused by people drinking stagnant water containing a water flea. Inside the tiny water flea is the larvae of the Guinea worm, which then starts to grow within the human body. It can grow up to 3 feet and finally emerges a year later through a painful blister on the skin. It causes immense suffering and often long term effects.
Water scarcity diseases
Diseases like Trachoma are compounded due to a simple lack of water.
Trachoma is a highly contagious disease that causes blindness. It is so easily prevented, with just 1 litre of water a day being enough to keep a child's face clean and stop the high rate of infection. Sadly many of the world's poorest cannot even spare this small amount.
