Tropical Medicine and International Health, doi:10.1111/j.1365-3156.2012.03052.x
Editorial: Millennium Development Goals water target claim exaggerates achievement
Thomas F. Clasen, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
EXCERPT – In March 2012, the United Nations made an importantannouncement: ‘The goal of reducing by half the numberof people without access to safe drinking water has beenachieved’ (United Nations 2012). While major newsorganizations heralded the achievement, this may beanother premature claim of ‘mission accomplished’. This isbecause the way progress is measured on the MillenniumDevelopment Goals (MDG) water target does not fullyaddress water quality, quantity and access – key components of the target that are fundamental to human health.Target 7c of the MDGs calls for ‘reducing by half theportion of people without sustainable access to safedrinking water’ (UN 2000). Unfortunately, there is no clearguidance on precisely what was intended by the languageof the target or definitions of the key terms ‘sustainable’,‘access’ or ‘safe’. H
