New Study Reveals that Dirty Water is Killing More Women than Breast Cancer and AIDS

A new study has revealed that dirty water is killing more women than breast and AIDS put together.

Diseases can spread through dirty water and a new study has shown that poor sanitation and dirty water are the fifth biggest reason women worldwide are dying. Dirty water and poor sanitation are killing more women than diabetes, breast cancer and AIDS, it was concluded by the study authors.

Around 800,000 women die every year because they lack access to clean water and safe toilets, revealed the research was made by WaterAid, a development organization. WaterAid analyzed data that was amassed by the Institute of Health Metrics research center in Seattle.

Barbara Frost, CEO of WaterAid, stated that the unacceptable situation of poor sanitation and dirty water is affecting the education of girls and women, as well as their health and their dignity. It is also incredibly sad that in too many cases, these two factors lead to an early death of women and girls.

As mentioned, poor sanitation is the fifth killer of women in the world. The report also revealed the other 4 leading causes of death women and they are: heart disease, followed by stroke, lower respiratory infections and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The same WaterAid report revealed another tragic statistic: one in three women in this world (which amounts to more than 1 billion women) does not have access to a private and safe toilet, while one in ten women (around 370 million) does not have access to clean water.

Between 1990 and 2012, more than 2 billion people gained access to clean water, but around 750 million are still denied this United Nations recognized human right.

Poor sanitation and dirty water are causing issues such as a high maternal and child mortality and even sexual violence.

Many of the women who live in developing countries give birth at home and without access to a source of clean water they are exposing themselves as well as their babies to infections.

Also, without clean and safe toilets, girls and women have to go outside to relieve themselves, which in a lot of cases puts them at risk of assault and sexual harassment.

Also, in many developing and poor countries, getting the water is considered a woman’s responsibility and they can spend hours each day trekking to and from wells. Taking up so much time, getting water prevents them to care for their families and attending school.

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Tara Hamilton

Tara has graduated from the University of Oregon, with bachelors degree in Spanish Literature in 2010. She lived in Miami for one year and travelled extensively before settling down in El Paso.