water sources, infrastructure, space and the dynamics of ...

Water sources, infrastructure, space and the dynamics of environmental diseases in Saboba District: Using GISCHAPTER 1IntroductionFrom the beginning of the 21st century, most countries are faced withdevelopmental challenges of how to manage their water resources toensure sustainable use and reduce its health consequences. This problemis estimated to be more prevalent in developing countries. For example,the International Water Management Institute (IWMI, 2000) haveestimated that by 2025, water shortages will be more prevalent amongpoorer countries, and that Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) will face watersupply shortages due to economic constraints to develop safe drinkingwater, as well as excessive population growth. This may deny thesecountries from achieving the target of the Millennium DevelopmentGoals (MDGs) on water availability and quality. World HealthOrganisation and United Nations Children's Fund, WHO and UNICEF,(2004) have also stated that more than one billion people on earthcurrently rely on water sources that are unsafe, unreliable, or difficult toaccess for their daily domestic use. As a result, millions of people, mostof them children, women and the aged are dying annually from diseasesrelated to poor water quality. Vörösmarty et al (2000) believe themagnitude of this challenge could double in the next two decades. WhileWHO (2004) stated that diarrhoeal diseases are responsible for 1.8million annual death, it also estimated that 88% of that burden isattributable to unsafe water supply and sanitation – largely in developingcountries, where Ghana is not an exception. WHO (2004) noted that; “asignificant amount of these diseases could be prevented… throughbetter access to safe water supply, adequate sanitation facilities and betterhygienic practices”.Ghana is no exemption from this estimated health burden, due in part tothe depletion in quality of its water resources. Such depletion of waterquality has become key problem facing Ghana, making herdevelopmental objectives ever more daunting, as it places healthconsequences on the people and reduce their productivity. Recognisingthis need to reduce water-related health problems by protecting waterresources, the revised population policy of Ghana (Ghana, 1994) statesthat “Government’s new policies are to tackle the growing problems of… river pollution and toxic waste, through specific interventionmeasures including education and awareness programmes...” (p. 7). Aspart of efforts to help avert this problem, government has mandated theWater Resources Commission (WRC) to develop a Buffer Zone Policyto protect riverbanks and other water sourcesMost of these health problems occur in poorer areas such as SabobaDistrict of Northern Ghana. The health impacts and problems stretchout further and further in both space and time. Despite the recognitionof the relation between water need and health related problems, itsintegration are yet to be clearly systematised and understood in Ghana,and many other developing countries. Spatial aspect on micro level ofthis health problem is not also identified, at least not in Saboba district.In order to allow informed decision-making on interventions aimed atprevention and control of environmental diseases, and specifically,water-related diseases, it is crucial to carry out research into its spatialdynamics and causes in each specific region.1