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Editorials

Clean drinking water for homes in Africa and other less developed countries

BMJ 2005; 331 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.331.7515.468 (Published 01 September 2005) Cite this as: BMJ 2005;331:468
  1. James K Tumwine, professor (jtumwine@imul.com)
  1. Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Makerere Medical School, PO Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda

    Flocculant-disinfectant treatment with bleach is effective and acceptable

    More than 1 billion people in developing countries lack access to safe water, and 2.2 million die annually of diarrhoea.1 Unfortunately, communities where diarrhoea is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality often lack the capacity and the resources to establish and sustain centrally purified water free from sewage.2

    Contamination of water during collection, transport, and storage at home presents a serious risk to health for millions of households in developing countries. Several studies have shown an increased risk of diarrhoea because of inadequate water storage.3 Regardless of where or how the water is collected, storage vessels with wide openings such as pots or buckets are easily contaminated with faeces, through the introduction of cups, dippers, or hands. Water might also be contaminated by flies, cockroaches, and rodents.

    Several organisations have adopted a three …

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