 |
|
Contact person
For further information please contact:
Dr. Elisabeth von Münch Tel: +49 6196 79-4221 Fax: +49 6196 79-804221 Email: ecosan@gtz.de 
|
Background2.5 billion people, more than a third of the global population, are currently living with extremely poor or completely without sanitation – a clear affront to human dignity. The lives and health of both children and adults are being put at risk by unhygienic living conditions: 5,000 children under 5 years-old die every day as a result of diarrhoea. Poor sanitation has a negative impact on the economy as illness reduces productivity. Additionally, the pollution of groundwater, rivers, lakes and oceans endangers the environment. 
There are numerous reasons for the poor sanitation coverage in many emerging and developing countries. Those politically responsible are often neither interested in, nor aware of the scale of the problem, particularly as those who suffer most are the poorer and weaker members of society. Toilets, and everything related to them, are usually associated with social taboos. The strategies, laws and policies needed to promote and support functional structures and institutions in the sanitation sector are also most often lacking. In addition to all this, there is a lack of qualified technical and management personnel in most water and sanitation authorities and utilities. 
|
Contact person
Dr. Elisabeth von Münch
Tel: +49 6196 79-4221
Fax: +49 6196 79-804221
Email: ecosan@gtz.de