"Water is life, and clean water means health" - Audrey Hepburn
WATER is not taken for granted in most parts of the world however. It is generally accepted that over 1 billion people do not have access to clean water in the world, and the health, economic and developmental consequences of this reality are dire. Women and children spend hours collecting dirty water each day and lose valuable time, energy and calories (which are in short supply anyway) in the process. A family can not prosper if it spends hours each day fetching water, and the bite is twice as painful because that water is so often contaminated that the family has to spend what little it has looking for a cure. All that effort for something that inevitably undermines your health - it is cruel.
Health and WATER......A child suffering from acute diarrhea is listless, can not produce saliva, can barely speak, can not sit up, and can barely swallow. The body shrivels, as the last remnants of moisture within are sucked dry by a parched body. Cholera is worse of course, as is typhoid. The child's death is gruesome to behold - all for a glass of water.
WATER is not taken for granted in most parts of the world however. It is generally accepted that over 1 billion people do not have access to clean water in the world, and the health, economic and developmental consequences of this reality are dire. Women and children spend hours collecting dirty water each day and lose valuable time, energy and calories (which are in short supply anyway) in the process. A family can not prosper if it spends hours each day fetching water, and the bite is twice as painful because that water is so often contaminated that the family has to spend what little it has looking for a cure. All that effort for something that inevitably undermines your health - it is cruel.
Health and WATER......A child suffering from acute diarrhea is listless, can not produce saliva, can barely speak, can not sit up, and can barely swallow. The body shrivels, as the last remnants of moisture within are sucked dry by a parched body. Cholera is worse of course, as is typhoid. The child's death is gruesome to behold - all for a glass of water.
It all started during the summer after my junior year (high school). I remember talking to my guidance counselor about my future. After participating in a summer program at the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, I was convinced that I wanted to become a Veterinarian, foreign affairs officer or a political official. TODAY...I am neither of these....However, my journey has been very rewarding and more complex. My motivations were very simple—I believed in making the world a better place for humanity. I genuinely saw myself as a citizen of this planet, and I wanted to connect with people all over the world. As of today, I have traveled to over 80 countries. This year I will likely reach +85 with trips planned for South Korea, Brazil and Guam.
The beginning...
When I came to college, however, things changed completely. I took courses from all disciplines, which included chemistry, mathematics, English, and political science. One day, I approached my biochemistry professor and asked him if I could do research as an undergraduate. He took me to the dark dungeon known as his lab and introduced me to a completely different universe, one of molecules, WATER and the study of life!
"The World Health Organisation (WHO) argues that over 2 million people die each year from diarrheal disease linked to inadequate water supply. Most are children, most under 5 years old."
WATER - so basic and so necessary for life. We all know this of course, but many in the West understandably take their water supply for granted. Water is readily available, cheap in the USA at least, in abundant supply, and always flows when we turn on our taps. In many developing countries, such as India, Afghanistan, and Kenya in water is not abundant.
Today, I continue to study life and at times publish articles on WATER and human health.
This is abstract from one of my papers publish about a decade ago.
"Healthy humans regulate daily water balance remarkably well across their lifespan despite changes in biological development and exposure to stressors on hydration status. Acute or chronic body water deficits result when intakes are reduced or losses increase, but day-to-day hydration is generally well maintained so long as food and fluid are readily available. Total water intake includes drinking water, water in beverages, and water in food. Daily water needs determined from fluid balance, water turnover, or consumption studies provide similar values for a given set of conditions. A daily water intake of 3.7 L for adult men and 2.7 L for adult women meets the needs of the vast majority of persons. However, strenuous physical exercise and heat stress can greatly increase daily water needs, and the individual variability between athletes can be substantial."
Citation: Sawka, M. N., Cheuvront, S. N. and Carter III, Robert. (2005), Human Water Needs. Nutrition Reviews, 63: S30–S39. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2005.tb00152.x
Full paper available: http://archives.evergreen.edu/webpages/curricular/2007-2008/globalhealth/files/globalhealth/Sawka,%202005,%20Nut%20Rev,%20Human%20Water%20Needs.pdf
Development workers focused on water supply struggle and are often frustrated. Despite all our efforts, the number of people without water continues to climb - despite claims from some in the sector to the contrary. There are many debates as to why this is happening, and the reasons are complex. But the truth is that many water projects fail throughout the world every day. Projects fail because of inappropriate technologies, poor operation and maintenance systems, or a lack of finances on the part of governments and communities to keep their systems operational. Projects fail to improve health because many countries do not have the finances to purchase chlorine and other chemicals necessary to treat water - to make it safe to drink. Too often, these basics are out of reach.
Ultimately, I want each of you to understand that science really isn’t one dimensional—you can do so many things with a career in science. Whether it be teaching, research, or saving the world, a career in science or public health... has a spot for each and every one of you!
Dr. Robert Carter
