Situation analysis and epidemiology of infectious disease transmission: a South-East Asian regional perspective

Abstract

This paper analyses the situation in countries comprising the WHO South-East Asia Region with respect to water supply and sanitation services, hygiene and the epidemiology of related infectious diseases. Recently, published data from the WHO/UNICEF Global Water Supply and Sanitation Assessment 2000 report was reviewed to depict the situation with respect to consumers' access to improved water supply and sanitation services. It was shown that access to improved drinking water supplies is among the lowest in the world, and that sanitation coverage in this region is below all others. The paper also reviews selected surveys of hygiene behaviours in several countries of the region. Associations are suggested between access to services, hygienic practices and specific infectious diseases. The need is acknowledged to improve the evidence base on linkages between infectious diseases and water, sanitation and hygiene, and specific recommendations are made in this regard. There is a need now and for the foreseeable future to promote low-cost household-level interventions, including behaviour change strategies, that mitigate the health consequences of the current situation with respect to water supply, sanitation and hygiene. The role of health authorities in meeting this challenge, and as advocates for accelerating development of the water and sanitation sector, is highlighted.

Assessment of drinking water quality using ICP-MS and microbiological methods in the Bholakpur area, Hyderabad, India

“…The World Health Organization has estimated that diarrhoea will kill annually 2.2 million people worldwide (WHO 2006). Diarrhoeal illness remains a major killer in children and it is estimated that 80% of all illnesses in developing countries is related to water and sanitation; and that 15% of all child deaths under the age of 5 years in developing countries result from diarrhoeal diseases (WHO/UNICEF 2000, 2004Thompson and Khan 2003). Lang et al (2001) have estimated that 35% of the total reported gastroenteritis was water-related.…”

Drinking water quality assessment in Southern Sindh (Pakistan)

“…The deteriorating quality of water in developing countries has caused diarrhea (Thompson and Khan 2003;WHO 2000WHO , 2004Fewtrell et al 2005;Clasen et al 2007), hepatitis E (Rab et al 1997;Lee and Schwab 2005), dental carries and oral hygiene (Ishaque and Khan 2001), anemia in children (Stephenson et al 2000), reducing intelligence in children, and brain functioning and development (Dillingham and Guerrant 2004). Water quality involves a long list of physical (EC, TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), hardness, alkalinity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), chemical (pH, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, P, Na, etc.…”

Acoustic signature based discrimination of drinking water

“…Thus lack of safe drinking water supply, basic sanitation and hygienic practices is associated with high morbidity and mortality from excreta related diseases. Diarrheal illness remains a major killer in children and it is estimated that 80% of all illness in developing countries is related to water and sanitation; and that 15% of all child deaths under the age of 5 years in developing countries result from diarrheal diseases [3].…”