By Sabine Dolan
In Amazonian Peru, A Simple, Life-Saving Solution To Waterborne Illness
Drinking water is fundamental to human life. Yet, thousands of children die every day from diarrhea and other waterborne diseases because of limited access to safe water.
As the world observes World Water Day on 22 March, we look at the Loreto region of Peru. Although the Amazon, the world’s largest river, flows through this part of the country, safe water here is limited.
IQUITOS, Peru, 21 March 2013 – Cinthia Alado is worried about her son Andy. The 7-month-old has been suffering from stomach pain.
Safe Water At A High Price
Cinthia and her family live in a crowded community by the Amazon River in Iquitos, Peru. Last April, the area was devastated by what local inhabitants say were the worst floods in more than three decades. The waters have long since receded, but people in this impoverished neighborhood have limited access to clean, safe water.
As a result, residents, especially young children, have suffered from bouts of severe diarrhea and various infections.
“My son has had diarrhea already five times today because I don’t have clean water in my house,” says Cinthia, holding Andy in her arms. “Water costs a lot of money, and I just can’t afford to buy it every day.”
“For thousands of families in Peru, the only option is to buy water supplied by tank trucks and store it,” explains UNICEF Representative in Peru Paul Martin. “This lack of access to safe drinking water translates into children having skin problems and exposes them to stomach viruses which produce recurrent diarrhea.”
The community of Masusa is in Iquitos on the Amazon River. It is extremely poor. Eight in ten families don’t have safe drinking water, and almost no one has access to sanitation. Masusa was severely affected by floods, which contaminated local water supplies.
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