Report On International Water Day

On World Water Day, people around the world express their care and that they have the power to make a difference. World Water Day is observed worldwide each year on March 22nd. It is an opportunity to focus attention on a natural resource that all our lives and livelihoods depend on. Each year, UN-Water, the entity that coordinates the UN’s work on water and sanitation sets a theme for World Water Day corresponding to a global challenge. This year, World Water Day highlights how water and jobs interact to transform people’s lives. Almost half of the world's 1.5 billion workers are working in water related sectors and nearly all jobs depend on water and sanitation are essential workers’ lives and health.

On this day, millions of people who work in water are often not recognized or even protected by basic labour rights. This needs to change. It is a day on which to be inspired and take action to make a difference for those who can’t take water for granted. Every hour 38 workers die from water-related diseases. These deaths can be prevented with better water and sanitation (improved quality drinking water, sanitation, hygiene and related knowledge).

Abibimman Foundation therefore on the 22^nd day of March 2016 celebrated the world water day in collaboration with the Kingdom Dynamic Future Home with the pupils of God Almighty International School in Kukurantumi in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The pupils participated in an interactive talk on the basic provision of adequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services at home and in the school. They also asked questions on how to purify water from various sources and they relate to impacts lives through its presence, quality and quantity.

The pupils engaged in the formation of a club that would be coordinated by the Abibimman Green-Life Club to help the students become ambassadors of WASH in their district. Water has the ability to create paid and decent jobs. It can contribute to a greener economy and sustainable development. But for this to happen, we need more qualified workers. And we need those workers to work in dignity, equality, safety and have a fair income. The President and founder of Kingdom Dynamic Future Home, Mr. Prince Anthony Blessed Amegbor, promoted the day’s celebration with the assistance of the head teacher of the School

Mr Emmanuel Modzaka and a teacher, Mr. Antwi Agyeipong. The pupils engaged happily in the global celebration and sang songs to show how much water means to them and everyone. Many have lived without love, yet not one without water. It is therefore a necessity to commemorate this day of a substance that is substantial and crucial, and a unique source of life.

Miss Christiana Bonni, Project Coordinator of Abibiman Foundation said access to a safe, reliable and affordable supply of water and adequate sanitation services, creates an enabling environment for long-term employment opportunities, as well as development and growth across different economic sectors.

This is especially important when we factor in the important role water quality and water quantity play. For example, in the irrigated agriculture sector, which represents 70 per cent of freshwater withdrawals globally, a farmer's job depends on their ability to manage the available freshwater while at the same time facing challenges such as groundwater depletion, climate change and water scarcity. Agriculture accounts for more than 90 percent of freshwater withdrawals. Without improved efficiency measures, agricultural water consumption is expected to increase by about 20 per cent globally by 2050. In the forestry sector, it is often necessary to reduce deforestation to avoid water shortages or excess water flows with negative impacts on a region, resulting in lay-offs in the industry.

Christiana Bonni,
Project Coordinator
Abibimman Foundation.
www.abibimmanfoundation.org
Email:[email protected]