WATER SHORTAGE Water is an essential resource for life and good health.

The access to safe water is a basic human right, yet it is a right denied millions of people every day with a documented lack of water to meet daily needs of one in three people around the world. Globally, the problem is getting worse as cities and populations grow, and the needs for water increase in agriculture, industry and households (WHO, 2006). The world faces severe challenges to meet the growing demand for water and, at the same time, maintain water quality. It is estimated that over 40 percent of the worlds population, or 2.7 billion peoplemostly living in the developing world will experience severe water scarcity by 2025. Deep conflicts continue or emerge as rural areas, cities, regions and neighboring countries compete for a limited and shrinking supply. Water scarcity is an ongoing public health tragedy: Preventable diseases continue to debilitate and kill because 1 billion poor people are excluded from their right to safe drinking water. Almost 2.5 billion people do not have access to sanitation and are forced to live in degrading and unhealthy environments (WHO, 2006). The availability of water for cleaning, sanitation, and hygiene is directly linked to the reduction or control of numerous diseases. Drought conditions create the need to conserve water, but these conservation efforts should not hinder proper sanitation and hygiene. People may feel the need to conserve water in ways that can increase health risks, such as reducing or eliminating hand washing. Personal hygiene, cleaning, hand washing, and washing of fruits and vegetables can be done in a way that conserves water, while at the same time continues to promote these healthy behaviors. The installation of low-flow faucet aerators in businesses and homes is one example of how to reduce water consumption while maintaining hand washing and other healthy hygienic behaviors (Hopkins et al, 2005; Clasen et al, 2006).

Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) is clear on a childs right to clean drinking water and freedom from the dangers of environmental pollution; 2 million children die each year from diarrhea-related disease. Poor women almost invariably are excluded from decisions regarding waters allocation and management. Effective ways must be found to ensure the water rights of the poor through addressing the risks and uncertainties they face over lack of access. Otherwise,

their capacity to achieve long-term livelihood security, including a healthy and secure living environment, will be substantially reduced. An international yardstick of water security was created by the UN but many countries are not meeting these standards. The UN international water protocols should be supported and advanced. An example of real progress toward higher international standards of water management is the 1997 UN Watercourses Convention, which, unfortunately, was not ratified. Another important example of successful international agreements over water management standards is the European Union Water Framework Directive. In this framework, water quality standards and parameters of aquatic ecosystem health are defined by the European Union. Individual nations are charged with meeting those standards by whatever means they feel will work best in local circumstances. In the EU model agricultural policy and water policy are linked (WHO, 2006). In conclusion considering the grave consequences of water scarcity on child and mother health globally, the increased investment in urgently needed sanitation coverage and improved access to safe water supply globally is encouraged. Furthermore the ratification of the UN Watercourses Convention and the development of the draft articles on trans-boundary aquifers as a means of protecting water resources are recommended.

REFERENCES World Health Organization and UNICEF. Meeting the MDG Drinking Water and Sanitation Target: The Urban and Rural Challenge of the Decade. 2006. Clasen T, Roberts I, Rabie T, Schmidt W, Cairncross S. Interventions to improve water quality for preventing diarrhea. 2006. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 3: CD004794. Hopkins DR, Ruiz-Tiben E, Downs P, Withers Jr. PC, Maguire JH. Dracunculiasis Eradication: The Final Inch. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2005;73(4):669-75.