In 2007 the British Medical Journal produced results of a poll showing that its readers chose the introduction of clean water and sewage disposal – “the sanitary revolution” – as the most important medical milestone since 1840 (when the BMJ was first published).

 

In 2014 over 748 million people in the world do not have access to safe drinking water while 40% of the world’s population, that’s over 2.5 billion people, do not have access to basic sanitation.

 

This for me is the greatest injustice in the world today.

 

The lack of access to clean water and affordable and adequate sewage disposal results in the death of millions of people every year, due to diarrhea-related illnesses.  These illnesses are easily and cheaply prevented/treated in the western world.

 

 Children of the world are denied a full time education due the lack of access to clean water and sanitation facilities, particularly girls.  This isn’t just as a result of the time lost when walking  miles to the nearest water source to collect water (often unsafe water); it is estimated that one in ten schoolgirls in Africa miss classes or drop out completely when they attain the age of puberty due to lack of washrooms, lack of sanitary pads and bullying by peers.

 

This is wrong!

 

In one month’s time I will be participating in a 316-mile charity bike ride from London to Amsterdam, raising money for the charity WaterAid .

 

Whilst any money would be greatly appreciated (and my employer has pledged to match every pound that is raised with a pound of their own) for me this is about raising awareness, of incomprehensible injustice in the world today.

 

In light of this, if you have time, please clink on the link below to watch an incredibly eye-opening documentary on life without clean water and sewage disposal.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwAj3qTPt4E

 

 

Thank you for reading!