Unicef helps RI cope with diarrhea

Tue, 05/27/2008 3:16 PM  |  National

SEMARANG: UNICEF is asking the media to help raise public awareness of sanitation as part of the fight against diarrhea, the second most deadly disease in developing countries after respiratory infection.

UNICEF representative in the province I Made Sutama began on Monday a two-day tour of print and electronic media offices to forge cooperation in the campaign, citing the fact there are 15.7 million people in Central Java who continue to be denied the basic right to sanitation.

There are 69 million people across the country who do not have access to sanitation and 55 million people who have no access to clean water. Poor sanitation is responsible for the deaths of 100,000 children aged less than three years old annually.

The central government launched International Sanitation Year on March 27, with an aim to speed up efforts to halve the number of people without access to basic sanitation by 2015, as set out in the Millennium Development Goals.

Central Java will officially kick off the campaign Thursday. -- JP

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.