WWD 2001 Information Leaflet
The theme for World Water Day 2001 is “Water and Health”. For this reason, and for the first time the World Health Organization (WHO) is the lead agency for the day.
Water and health are inter-twined in many ways. Water is one of the earth's most precious and threatened resources. Health is precious to all of us and equally vulnerable. We need to protect and enhance them both.
22 March is a unique occasion to remind everybody of the unseen contribution water makes to health, and how it can reduce disease. Practical efforts can help us to make an impact as well as to increase worldwide awareness of both problems and solutions. To make a difference our tasks include turning words into commitment and action.
World Water Day is celebrated by individuals and organizations worldwide. WHO is putting its efforts behind ensuring awareness of the day, providing information to assist celebration and providing a route to learn what others are doing. Celebration is not confined to the day, but throughout the year.
To support celebration of the day, a World Water Day web-site is being launched in collaboration between the IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre and WHO. This will provide a wealth of information on water and health issues and gives free access to information about World Water Day. It will be updated throughout the year, forming the main source to attract and empower the largest possible audience for this event. The web-site will emphasize the importance of water and health, providing an efficient and appropriate way to disseminate information. The site is launched in January 2001, featuring information from around the world on World Water Day activities on the day, and throughout the year. The address is www.worldwaterday.org.
Information on the Web site will include:
- ‘An advocacy guide’ to encourage partners, international organizations, private companies, governments, NGO's, schools, and the community at large to support and celebrate this unique occasion.
- Disease fact sheets will describe each water related disease and will provide you with the latest up to date information and statistics.
- Theme articles linking water and health will highlight the cross cutting issues such as poverty, war, flooding, infection human rights and much more.
- An explanatory leaflet on World Water Day.
- On the day, WHO will launch a new report aiming to raise awareness on the vital links between adequate clean, safe water and health, poverty alleviation, well being and overall sustainable development.