Ensuring access to adequate water services

In situations where there is no water supply, it is women and older girls who usually provide it. Medical research has documented cases of permanent damage to women's health directly attributed to carrying water, among them spinal and pelvic deformities and degenerative rheumatism. More immediate problems include exposure to water-borne diseases, chronic fatigue and the threat of miscarriage among pregnant women. In some parts of rural Africa, women may expend as much as 85% of their daily energy intake fetching water; incidence and severity of anaemia increases during the dry season when up to 63% of pregnant women and 40% of non-pregnant women are anaemic.

This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities.

1. Relieving scarcity of fresh water
2. Providing accessible services
3. Managing water supplies
4. Establishing primary health care
5. Ensuring resource access
6. Adopting sustainable sanitation policy

1. Providing safe drinking water for the poor
2. Expanding water services for rural and low-income peri-urban areas

1. Supplying energy
2. Providing social security services
3. Improving water system infrastructure
4. Expanding public participation of women in water projects
5. Ensuring sustainable development of fresh waters
6. Ensuring clean drinking water

1. Limiting water supply

1. Polluted drinking water
2. Inadequate water system infrastructure
3. Inadequate sanitation infrastructure
4. Inadequate facilities for the transport of water supplies