By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Identify public health issues related to fresh water, particularly in developing countries.
- Describe the main bacteriological, viral and parasitic diseases transmitted by ingestion or contact with fresh water.
- Develop preventive and corrective measures to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases through water.
Description
Water is of vital importance to humanity. However, more than 2 billion people, mainly in developing countries, do not have access to drinking water or satisfactory sanitary conditions and are exposed to the risk of potentially serious infectious diseases linked to the presence in water from bacteria, viruses, or parasites. This explains, for example, the death from acute diarrhea of 1,4 million children each year and how, in the 21st century, a cholera pandemic persists in certain continents.
This MOOC explores how water is polluted by microbes, indicates some regional particularities, sometimes socio-anthropological, favoring water pollution, and describes the most frequent infectious diseases transmitted by ingestion or contact with water.
The MOOC explains why making water drinkable and ensuring satisfactory sanitary conditions is an "intersectoral" work bringing together health actors, politicians and engineers. Ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all is one of WHO's 17 goals for the coming years.
