PRESS RELEASE


Coordinated action worked for H1N1: time for the same approach to diarrhoea

Geneva 19 August 2010 - A week after the World Health Organization announced the welcome news that the H1N1 flu has ended its pandemic phase, the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) reminds the world's decision-makers that deaths from diarrhoea remain extremely high[1]. These deaths are closely linked to inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene practices [2], and are mainly among children under 5 years old in the world's poorest countries.

WSSCC will take this reminder to two major global gatherings next month, an international meeting of leading water experts in Stockholm and the UN Summit of world leaders called for by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the High-Level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly.

"H1N1 was rightly seen as a threat to global health, and coordinated international attention has been successful in reducing the risk. Significant levels of resources, both time and money, were directed to addressing the issue. There was also considerable public debate, including extended coverage in the media," said Jon Lane, WSSCC's Executive Director.

"By these standards, diarrhoea has been neglected. The H1N1 virus has killed at least 18,300[3] people to date. During the same time, diarrhoea has killed about 2 million people. We would love to be able to announce that we are overcoming the threat of diarrhoea, but sadly, that is not the case. Yet we know that some simple measures, including access to toilets and hand washing at key moments, could make a huge difference. It's time the international community put significant time and money into this issue, and treated it with the urgency it deserves."

The same groups who took part in the successful response to the H1N1 pandemic have a role to play in addressing diarrhoea: global health decision makers, the UN system, donors, national governments, civil society, and the media. The Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council has members in 160 countries representing each of these constituencies and seeks to raise awareness about the contributions that good sanitation and hygiene can make to health, wealth, and dignity. WSSCC also works in other global initiatives that advance the cause of sanitation, hygiene, and water supply for all people[4].

Note to editors

The Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) is a global multi-stakeholder partnership and membership organisation that works to save lives and improve livelihoods. It does so by enhancing collaboration among sector agencies and professionals who are working to improve access for the 2.6 billion people without safe sanitation and the 884 million people without clean drinking water. Through its work, WSSCC contributes to the broader goals of poverty eradication, health and environmental improvement, gender equality and long-term social and economic development. WSSCC has coalitions in 35 countries, members in more than 160 countries, and a Geneva-based Secretariat hosted by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). Visit www.wsscc.org for more information.

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[1] More than 1.8 million people per year , according to the latest WHO global burden of disease figures for low-income countries.

[2] According to WHO and UNICEF, around 2.6 people worldwide lack access to basic sanitation and more than 800 million people do not have access to safe drinking water.

[3] Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 111

[4] For example, WSSCC is a key partner in Sanitation and Water for All, a new global initiative that held its first major public event in April 2010: a High Level Meeting of Ministers of Finance that was organized in Washington D.C, USA, at the time of the World Bank Spring meetings.

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