Senegal

Global forum meets to discuss water and sanitation for all

© UNICEF/2004/Page

Clean water saves children’s lives

DAKAR, Senegal, 1 December 2004 —Hundreds of representatives from the public and private sector are gathering in Senegal this week (29 November – 3 December) for an international forum focusing on water and sanitation needs around the world.

The Global WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) Forum was organized by the Water Supply & Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC), in cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Senegal, and with support from UNICEF and other organizations.

Under the overall theme “Water, Sanitation & Hygiene for All - Solutions and Actions; Local and National", this forum brings together over 300 representatives from national governments, research institutions, the donor community, international organizations, professional associations and non-Governmental organizations – all of whom work in the field of water and sanitation for development. Their goal is to produce an achievable roadmap to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 – improving water and sanitation conditions worldwide are part of these goals, which include ending gender disparity and reduce child mortality.

Living without water

Lack of safe water, sanitation and hygiene awareness is a major enemy of world health. It is a primary cause of global illness and also deprives hundreds of millions of people of their energy, time, dignity and quality of life.

This ongoing but silent emergency kills 4,000 children every day, pushes millions more to the brink of survival and erodes efforts in all other areas of development.