Water for people.pdf - WHO Thailand Digital Repository

B A S I C N E E D S A N D T H E R I G H T T O H E A LT H / 1 0 1He who has health has hope.He who has hope has everything.Arabic proverbIN WEALTHIER PARTS OF THE WORLD, the connection betweenwater, hygiene and health is taken for granted. But for the lessfortunate majority, access to clean and adequate water is a dailystruggle. This chapter describes why water supply and sanitation areessential for meeting basic needs, yet also underlines the terrible coststo society if broader conditions of physical, mental and social wellbeingare not factored into the health and human developmentequation as well. The importance of promoting and protecting healthhas risen to the top of the political agenda and much progress has beenmade. However, millions are still deprived of a basic human right andhuge challenges remain in fulfilling the numerous promises made.