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The value of water supply and sanitation in development: An assessment

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  • Okun, D.A.

Abstract

The attractiveness of oral rehydration therapy (ORT), a new and simple ministration that averts many child deaths from diarrhea among children, is diverting attention among donor agencies from the importance of water supply and sanitation (WS&S) in developing nations. The principal factor that led to the adoption of ORT is its apparent low cost per diarrheal death averted in children when compared with WS&S. However, WS&S provides many more benefits that are essential to sustaining the lives saved by ORT and vital to maintaining and enhancing the lives of adults and children. Among many other benefits WS&S prevents spread of the causes of diarrhea, controls many other water- and sanitation-related diseases, releases women from the heavy and time-consuming burden of carrying water from distant sources, and improves the quality of life in the community. Cost comparisons between WS&S and ORT are misleading. WS&S is a long-term investment in preventive health while ORT is a response to an immediate life-threatening situation. WS&S interventions eliminate unsanitary conditions leading to illness and death while ORT has no effect on the causes of diarrheal morbidity. The costs of WS&S are not high: $5 to $10 per capita annually. Without WS&S and hygiene education ORT programs are not likely to effect long-term improvement in child health status. ORT and WS&S programs are complementary; one should not displace the other.

Suggested Citation

  • Okun, D.A., 1988. "The value of water supply and sanitation in development: An assessment," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 78(11), pages 1463-1467.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:1988:78:11:1463-1467_3
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    Cited by:

    1. Gamper-Rabindran, Shanti & Khan, Shakeeb & Timmins, Christopher, 2010. "The impact of piped water provision on infant mortality in Brazil: A quantile panel data approach," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(2), pages 188-200, July.
    2. Mvangeli Dlamini, Nqobizwe, 2015. "Households' Water Use Demand and Willingness to Pay for Improved Water Services: A Case Study of Semi-Urban Areas in the Lubombo and Lowveld Regions of Swaziland," Research Theses 243464, Collaborative Masters Program in Agricultural and Applied Economics.
    3. Hoddinott, John, 1997. "Water, health, and income," FCND discussion papers 25, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    4. Michael Kremer & Alix Peterson Zwane, 2007. "Cost-Effective Prevention of Diarrheal Diseases: A Critical Review," Working Papers 117, Center for Global Development.
    5. Costa, Cinthia Cabral da & Guilhoto, Joaquim José Martins, 2012. "Importância de uma política de saneamento rural no Brasil [Impact of a rural sanitation policy in Brazil]," MPRA Paper 40399, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Aklilu Asado & Asmera Adicha & Yemiryu Tesfaye, 2022. "Households’ willingness to pay for improved water service in Bonga town, Kaffa zone, Southwestern Ethiopia," International Journal of Agricultural Research, Innovation and Technology (IJARIT), IJARIT Research Foundation, vol. 12(1), June.
    7. Abid Anwar & Mussawar Shah & Yasrab Abid & Zia Ul Qamar & Hina Qamar, 2018. "Consumer Importance on Sustainable Water Sanitation & Hygiene Facilities Provided in Rural District Peshawar, Pakistan," Journal of Social Science Studies, Macrothink Institute, vol. 5(1), pages 316-328, January.
    8. Souha El Khanji, 2022. "Donors’ Interest in Water and Sanitation Subsectors," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 34(2), pages 611-654, April.

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