Public Health-Access to Healthy Water

Imagine being hot, thirsty and no possible clean water to drink.   These are the conditions for millions of people throughout the world.  Turning on the faucet or grabbing a bottle of water is common for many of us, but for 884 million people, this is not an ordinary occurrence.  This topic was very meaningful to me as we are seeing more natural disasters happening throughout the world that are affecting us all.  How can we turn our back on those who just one sip of water would make a world of difference?  An American taking a five-minute shower uses more water than a typical person in a developing country in a whole day. 

Haiti's 2010 earthquake destroyed this country.  In researching Haiti I was ashamed to learn that the lack of water still exist to the degree it does.  And because of this the following problems are continuing:

• $1.6 million has been raised to supply Haiti with new drills and water supplies.  The goal is $2.4 million.
• Water has been restored to more than 340 communities and the hope is that 400 will be rebuilt by 2011.
• Villages that were previously using wells have been destroyed by landslides and still have not been rebuilt.
• Quality of water is not an issue, but quantity is.  Haitians are not concerned with the brand of water they receive but that they receive.  If people are thirsty, they will weaken and die.  If those that are injured do not receive water, they will weaken and die. 
• Without clean water health supplies will be unsanitary but still have to be used.  This will spread diseases and people will become infected and eventually weaken and die.

I am determined to promoting ways that we all can get involved in improving safer water.  I have signed up with http://www.water.org/ to get continued feedback on ways to help throughout my community.  I will celebrate on March 22 along with the United Nations, as they emphasize a global solution to those struggling with healthy water. I am become a voice within my school for us all to support this overwhelming problem.