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Brain teaser 4
We use faeces (dung) as a fertilizer to help our crops grow. So why worry about keeping it out of water and food?
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© UNICEF/HQ97-0433/Grossman
Without safe water and proper sanitation, children are at great risk of water-related illnesses like diarrheoa and cholera. This boy, in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, has a distended (swollen) belly which is a sign of illness.
Faeces in the environment are the main cause of diarrhoeal disease, which are responsible for about 17 per cent (1 out of every 100) of deaths among children worldwide. The two most effective measures against diarrhoea are therefore:
• Disposing of faeces safely - preferably in a latrine or else buried at a distance from play areas and eating areas.
• Cleaning your hands with soap and water or with ash or mud after contact with faeces and before eating.