INFORME ANALÍTICO

7. LINK BETWEEN WATER AND SANITATION SERVICES AND HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT, AND SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Environmental health issues are at the forefront of concerns for the Ministry of Health. There are problems with environment-related diseases in the country, especially in the western and southern districts (Cayo and Toledo). In aggregate, the economic losses due to these diseases have increased from BZ$0.9 million in 1992 to BZ$1.7 million in 1995.

Access to potable water in Belize has improved in recent years. In urban areas the coverage increased from 95% in 1990 to 100% in 1999; in rural areas coverage increased from 51% in 1990 to 82 % in 1999. In contrast, the situation with respect to sanitation has remained constant, especially in the rural areas. According to 1995 data, 59 % of the urban population had access to sanitation services, while in the rural areas the coverage was 22%. In 1999, urban coverage increased to 71%, while rural coverage slightly increased to 25.3%. In the urban areas, the population relies on sewerage system connection and septic tanks. While in the rural areas, the population relies on septic tanks, ventilated improved pit latrines, and unimproved and non-water-sealed latrines. Others have no sanitation facilities.

The increase coverage in water supply services is due to continued investments been made by WASA. For example, the ongoing expansion projects for the Belize City urban water system and the completed water and sewerage system for San Pedro Town. In the rural areas, funding for the sector is coming from the Social Investment Fund Project that is being financed by the World Bank and also through the Basic Needs Trust Fund Project financed by the Caribbean Development Bank. Both the Social Investment Fund Project and the Basic Needs Trust Fund Project favors the construction of small community water systems/rudimentary water systems in the rural areas. These systems are generally located in villages with more than 250 inhabitants. They usually consist of a well with an electric submersible pump that discharges into an elevated tank and a pipe distribution network. The objective is to substitute water pumps and shallow wells with rudimentary water systems, where feasible.

Infectious diseases associated with deficiencies in access to potable water and sanitation are high in Belize, especially in the southern areas of the country. There are continued problems with gastroenteritis and cholera in Belize. Outbreaks of gastroenteritis were identified in Corozal, Belize City, Cayo and Toledo during recent years. There has been a steady decrease in the number of cholera cases since the first outbreak in 1992, having only 12 confirmed cases for 1999.

In order to decrease the risk of water borne diseases, the investment in water and sanitation is mainly focussing in those identified high-risk communities, in the Cayo and Toledo districts. The network of Community Health Workers and SHAPES program will contribute greatly in having healthier communities and hence decrease the incidence of waterborne diseases.

It is important to mention that the number of purifying water companies have been increasing over the past five years. Presently there are five companies and although the piped water supplied by WASA is safe for drinking, the consumption of purified water has also increased, especially in the urban areas. This is the only sector that has national standards for drinking water.