Q: World Water Day is March 22. What exactly is World Water Day and how can communities participate?
White: The UN General Assembly designated March 22 as “World Water Day” back in 1992. It is a time set aside to draw attention to the largest public health issue of our time—the global scarcity of clean water. There are a variety of activities being planned around this event.
Q: Children always seem to be the most vulnerable during any health crisis situation. Can you describe how the lack of clean drinking water affects children in particular?
White: The leading cause of child death in the world is diarrhea. Each year, children under age 5 suffer 1.5 billion episodes of diarrhea, 4 million of which are fatal. Even for the children who survive, this chronic diarrhea prevents them from thriving as they should. And for older girls, the responsibilities of carrying water are a leading cause of dropping out of school.
Q: What is your best advice for people interested in helping to solve the global water crisis?
White: The number one thing people can do is to get involved in spreading the word about the global water crisis. Let your neighbors, church and civic organizations, and your elected leaders know that this is an issue that you care about. And if you really want to make a difference in someone’s life, support an organization like WaterPartners International that is doing something about this problem.
For more information about the global water crisis and World Water Day, see the previous page.
