Between 1970 and 1999, 30 natural disasters in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) involved hurricanes, floods, droughts, or tsunamis, all of which potentially contribute to increases in waterborne illnesses. According to researcher Jennifer Fricas from the Seattle University and Tyler Martz from the Washington University School of Public Health, the impact of climatologic fluctuations on water quality and supply must be examined to ensure continued reduction in diarrheal diseases.

Fricas and Tyler have written some recommendations for policymakers concerned with the impacts on diarrheal diseases from meteorological changes. They recommend climate-related surveillance, water quality monitoring, and diarrheal disease surveillance, idealy in a multisectoral setting. A monitoring system should ideally be able to combine multiple data sources to inform about climatic changes and their potential human effects. The researchers also recommend effectively managing infrastructure development, providing policymakers an opportunity to effectively design water and sanitation systems for growing communities.

While improving access to hardware (wells, latrines, and sewage systems) is essential, the long-term success of these improvements depends on community participation in the decisionmaking processes, as well as continued infrastructure and program maintenance backed by political commitment.

Household interventions, while not discussed here, are also effective, and communities and governments in LAC should continue to promote at-home water storage, water treatment, and handwashing.

Related news: Latin America: climate change threatens water supply, Source Weekly, 03 Aug 2007

Source: Jennifer Fricas and Tyler Martz, Population Reference Bureau, Aug 2007

Tags: monitoring & evaluation, water-related diseases