UN sanitation campaign launched

Millions of people worldwide lack access to proper sanitation facilities, with the problem contributing to the deaths of 1.5 million children every year, according to the United Nations (UN).

Speaking at the launch of the organisation's International Year of Sanitation 2008, the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, called for improvements to help towards the Millennium Development Goal of halving the number of people without access to basic sanitation by 2015.

The UN campaign seeks to highlight the problems caused by inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene and the effect it has on the spread of both disease and poverty.

"Access to sanitation is deeply connected to virtually all the Millennium Development Goals, in particular those involving the environment, education, gender equality and the reduction of child mortality and poverty," Mr Ki-moon said.

"An estimated 42,000 people die every week from diseases related to low water quality and an absence of adequate sanitation. This situation is unacceptable," he added.

The year-long initiative hopes to encourage public and private partnerships, as well as increasing community and public awareness of the problem of poor sanitation, calling for an investment of approximately $10 billion (£5 million) a year to achieve the 2015 goals.

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