African Water Development Report 2006 - United Nations Economic ...

tary conditions. Among steps to combat diseaseand malnutrition, the Convention on the Rightsof the Child calls on countries to provide cleandrinking water and sanitation (Article 24). Assessingthe adequacy of sanitation facilities bearingin mind environmental and public healthconcerns is more complex than assessing watersupply. In terms of coverage, the basic questionthat arises is: Which level of sanitation? Is a traditionalpit latrine a sufficient sanitation service,or a VIP latrine? In most African countries, thechoice of the basic standard generally dependson the level of economic development and urbanization,and not the perceived public and environmentalhealth safety standards. An exampleof different types of sanitation facilities in usein South Africa is shown in figure 5.18 and therecommended indications for improved drinkingwater sources and sanitation facilities are givenin table 5.1 (WHO/UNICEF JMP, 2004).Coverage for the whole of Africa and somecountries is shown in Figures 5.19 and 5.20.There are disparities between the urban and theFigure 5.18: Type of Sanitation by Household in South AfricaBucket latrine4%Pit latrinewithoutventilation23%Pit latrine withventilation(VIP)6%None14%Chemical toilet2%rural coverage of both water supply and sanitationas shown in figures 5.20 and 5.21. A countryexample, using Cameroon, is shown in figure5.22. In Libya about 48 per cent of the householdsare connected to national sewage systems,even though the variation is very wide.Flush toilet(connected toseweragesystem)48%Flush toilet(with septictank)3%WATER FOR MEETING BASIC NEEDSFigure 5.19: Sanitation Coverage in AfricaSource: WHO/UNICEF, 2001103