- By: Naina Aghya
The right to clean water is one of the basic human right. Without clean drinking water no nation can survive or grow. According to article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Right every person has right to an adequate standard of living which include access to clean drinking water despite this millions of people around the world are still struggling every day to have clean water for cooking, drinking, and sanitation.
Lack to access clean water leads to main problem such as hepatitis, typhoid, leptospirosis, diarrhea and cholera which continue to be major cause of death especially in developing countries. Impure water also causes long term health issues like kidney failure because impure water contains heavy metals, harmful chemical, dehydration, malnutrition and weakened immunity and also common outcomes of unsafe water.
The statistics are shocking; The percentage of people dying because of kidney stones and kidney related complications is around 3.8% globally. Almost 652 per 1000 live births occur in children under five due to diseases caused by unsafe water, poor hygiene and malnutrition. Around 1800 to 2000 people lose their lives every year due to hepatitis B and C.
In rural areas the problem is even worse, people walk long distances to collect clean water. Many households do not have proper filtration system or government supply lines. The cycle of poverty grows stronger when clean water is not available.
Despite all this, society still does not take any action. Providing clean water is not just a basic service it is moral responsibility and a human right that everyone deserves.
We must take action because no one should die because of water. Clean water is not luxury it is a necessity for life and human development we can not sit silent and watch people dieing. We need solution we demand for clean water.