SoWH-Oct2014
PDF Upload
Handbook of WMA Policies
World Medical Association ⏐ S-2004-03-2014
WMA STATEMENT
ON
WATER AND HEALTH
Approved by the 55th
WMA General Assembly, Tokyo, Japan, October 2004
and revised by the 65th
WMA General Assembly, Durban, South Africa, October 2014
PREAMBLE
An adequate supply of fresh (i.e. clean and uncontaminated) water is essential for
individual and public health. It is central to living a life in dignity and upholding human
rights. Unfortunately, over half of the world’s population does not have access to such a
supply, and even in those places where there is an abundance of fresh water, it is
threatened by pollution and other negative forces.
In keeping with its mission to serve humanity by endeavoring to achieve the highest
international standards in health care for all people in the world, the World Medical Asso-
ciation has developed this statement to encourage all those responsible for health to
consider the importance of water for individual and public health.
CONSIDERATIONS
1. Water-borne diseases account for a large proportion of mortality and morbidity,
especially in developing countries. These problems are accentuated in times of
disasters such as wars, nuclear and man-made accidents with oil and/or chemicals,
earthquakes, epidemics, droughts and floods.
2. Anthropogenic changes to ecosystems, lowered retention by the earth’s surface,
and the limitation of the inherent capacity of nature to filter dirt from the water are
causing increasing damage to the natural environment, especially the water environ-
ment.
3. The commodification of water, whereby it is provided for profit rather than as a
public service, has implications for access to an adequate supply of drinking
water.
4. The development of sustainable infrastructure for the provision of safe water con-
tributes greatly to sound public health and national well-being. Curtailing infec-
tious diseases and other ailments that are caused by unsafe water alleviates the
burden of health care costs and improves productivity. This creates a positive
ripple effect on national economies.
5. Water as a vital and necessary resource for life has become scarce in many parts
of the world and therefore has to be used reasonably and with care.
S-2004-03-2014⏐ Durban
Water and Health
6. Water is an asset that is shared by humanity and the earth. Thus, water-related
issues should be addressed collaboratively by the global community.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Physicians, National Medical Associations and health authorities are encouraged to sup-
port the following measures related to water and health:
1. International and national programmes to provide access to safe drinking water at
low cost to every human on the planet and to prevent the pollution of water sup-
plies.
2. International, national and regional programmes to provide access to sanitation
and to prevent the degradation of water resources.
3. Research on the relationship between water supply systems, including waste-
water treatment, and health.
4. The development of plans for providing potable water and proper wastewater
disposal during emergencies. These will vary according to the nature of the emer-
gency, but may include on-site water disinfection, identifying sources of water,
and back-up power to run pumps.
5. Preventive measures to secure safe water for health care institutions after the oc-
currence of natural disasters, especially earthquakes. Such measures should
include the development of infrastructure and training programs to help health
care institu-tions cope with such crises. The implementation of continued
emergency water supply programs should be done in conjunction with regional
authorities and with community involvement.
6. More efficient use of water resources by each nation. The WMA especially urges
hospitals and health institutions to examine their impact on sustainable water re-
sources.
7. Preventive measures and emergency preparedness to save water from pollution.
8. The promotion of the universal access to clean and affordable water as a human
right1
and as a common good of humanity.
1
In 2010, the United Nations General Assembly and the Human Rights Council explicitly recog-
nized the human right to water and sanitation, derived from the right to an adequate standard of
living as stipulated in article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights and other international human rights treaties. Hence, it is part of international human
rights law.