Module 8: Sanitation

Due to the variety and complexity of the topics related to sanitation, this module will consist of a general glimpse of some of the most important issues of sanitation. The material for each topic will consist of a video for each one. As well as general readings that embraces the whole subjects of sanitation, in order to get a full picture of the problematic involved. The study case for this module will consist of an epidemic outbreak due to a poor sanitation regarding an emergency situation.

1) The term “sanitation" can be applied to a specific aspect, concept, location, or strategy, such as the following issues:

• Basic sanitation.- Refers to the management of human feces at the household level. This terminology is the indicator used to describe the target of the Millennium Development Goal on sanitation.

Video: The history of sanitation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfU9RHrz_Wk

• On-site sanitation.- The collection and treatment of waste is done where it is deposited. Examples are the use of pit latrines, septic tanks, others.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg-j-GxFWuw&feature=related

• Food sanitation.- Refers to the hygienic measures for ensuring food safety.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaKZwCOhAcs&feature=related

• Environmental sanitation.- The control of environmental factors that form links in disease transmission. Subsets of this category are solid waste management, water and wastewater treatment, industrial waste treatment and noise and pollution control.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oH_lOG_01IA&feature=related

• Ecological sanitation.- A concept and an approach of recycling to nature the nutrients from human and animal wastes.

Video 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5zVASa0u9g&feature=related

Video 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqNUTlY5foQ&feature=related

• Sanitation and public health.- The importance of waste isolation lies in an effort to prevent water and sanitation related diseases, which afflicts both developed countries as well as developing countries to differing degrees. It is estimated that up to 5 million people die each year from preventable water-borne disease, as a result of inadequate sanitation and hygiene practices.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzijgTZbARA&feature=related

Readings:

2) Inheriting the world: The atlas of children's health and the environment (pp. 1-23)

More than three million children die every year due to unhealthy environments. This atlas tackles issues as diverse as the devastating and largely unknown impact of indoor air pollution, the unfashionable yet huge tragedy of sanitation, and complex emerging issues like climate change (By Bruce Gordon, Richard Mackay and Eva Rehfuess, © World Health Organization 2004)

http://www.who.int/entity/ceh/publications/en/atlas.pdf

3) Meeting the MDG drinking-water and sanitation target: the urban and rural challenge of the decade

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have set us on a common course to push back poverty, inequality, hunger and illness. The world has pledged to reduce by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. Entering the International Decade for Action, Water for Life, 2005–2015, this report looks at the challenge of meeting the MDG target for drinking water and sanitation (World Health Organization and UNICEF, 2006).

http://www.who.int/entity/water_sanitation_health/monitoring/jmpfinal.pdf

4) While sometimes not considered a public health priority, improvements to water supply, sanitation services, and hygiene promotion greatly reduce the incidence of diarrheal diseases, trachoma, and water-based parasitic diseases. Improvements to services are generally financed by transportation or infrastructure sectors and not part of health expenditures. However there are many steps public health policy makers can take, at low-cost, to ensure that services and benefits are optimized (Disease Control Priorities Project, 2007).

Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene: Simple, Effective Solutions Save Lives

5) Sanitation in Rural Communities in Sonora, Mexico

Robles-Morua et al. 2007. Community partnered projects: a case study of a collaborative effort to improve sanitation in a marginalized community in northwest Mexico

Robles-Morua et al. 2011. Waterborne disease-related risk perceptions in the Sonora River Basin, Mexico

Discussion Questions:

1) In general, what are the most significant issues for rural communities regarding drinking wáter and sanitation?

2) More specifically, what are the most significant issues for rural communities in Sonora, Mexico, regarding drinking wáter and sanitation?

Bonus material:

The next video is not really part of the sanitation material, but just something to think about. Hope you enjoy it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWKYlufVa5U&feature=related