Health and Water

Abstract

The Health sector should play an integral part to accomplish Integrate Water Resource Management (IWRM). The overarching aim of IWRM is sustainability. Health of people and health of the environment is an outcome of IWRM through sustainability. It is clear that IWRM cannot be effectively accomplished if all sectors and stakeholders aren’t involved in and throughout the whole process. The Health sector should develop a framework of integration and co-operation with the other stakeholders and should plan towards this process. The process of IWRM should feature as part of their priority list of duties, with time and finances allocated for meetings and collaboration. The Health Sector should understand the importance of IWRM and specifically the role they play in the whole process. They should advocate the process of IWRM and involve civil society by means of education campaigns, media etc. People should be made aware of the role they play in establishing the process. This chapter included a summary of the challenges facing the health sector for effectively supporting IWRM. It is evident that many challenges exist to ensure that health is adequately addressed to contribute towards the goals of integrated water resource management.