Rural water supply and health : the need for a new strategy

In poor countries there is a linkage between lack of safe water, high levels of infections, and high rates of child mortality. To cope with this world-wide problem, the United Nations has launched The International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade 1981-90 with health as the overriding objective. Water supply close to the homes will also radically reduce the heavy burden on rural women for which water drawing is a household task. In order that the health objective will be attained, people have to use the water provided, keep it clean in the home, and keep the water supply system in operation. Water supply and sanitation can no longer be seen as merely technical problems, but involve measures to secure operation and maintenance, manpower, administration, health education, and creation of a sence of public ownership. This book synthesises contributions to and results of the United Nations Seminar on Rural Water Supply held in Uppsala Sweden, in October 1980