Water UK International Summit
(Lancaster House, London, 5th November , 2003)

"Perspective on Global Sustainability"

Presentation by Dr. James Appleyard, President of the World Medical Association, Ferney-Voltaire, France

Minister,
Honored Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen

We all know water is our most vital resource.
We all know that 70% of each of us is composed of water.
We all know water gives and sustains life.

Yet 1.1 billion people worldwide still lack access to safe drinking water and the global coverage increased by only 3% to 82% in the last ten years. A lack of safe drinking water and poor environmental conditions are among the major underlying cause of children dying each year. Safe water and improved sanitation can be associated with a 65 per cent reduction in deaths due to diarrhea.

This burden of disease falls mainly on the poor. The gap between the rich and poor in the world is widening creating instability, a breeding ground for ill health, poor economic growth, social instability and terrorists. Health is an important key to the relief of poverty – healthy children mean healthy adults who are more economically productive and the chronic costs of the burden of disease are reduced.

The burden of disease will be shared by all in time - AIDS, multiply resistant TB, SARS know no boundaries. We all have a responsibility – our government, the industry and our fellow citizens. Meetings such as this enable us to learn from each other, from the wisdom of Europe’s environmental and water experts, share experiences, and go away with a resolve to change for the better.

To realize we will achieve more by extending our partnerships both to improve and further our own uses of water. And we must contribute significantly to the needs of the developing world. Fluoride is a natural substance. It is present in our drinking water in variable concentrations. Getting the concentration right saves our children’s teeth. In Kabale, Uganda without fluoride or dental care, dental disease is the third most common reason to attend hospital. We owe it to our children to prevent tooth decay and disease. The UK government current proposals in parliament will achieve this. It needs our full support. It will set a good example for others.
And we must also contribute to the needs of the developing world. Their needs are our needs. We have to improve on the mean 3% increase over ten years.

Each of us in this hall can make a significant difference.

We can no longer afford to remain indifferent to the needs of others in poor countries.

The question is will you accept your responsibility to do so?

James Appleyard
President of the WMA