Contaminated water is one of the factors that contribute to chronic childhood malnutrition. In the Amazon provinces, this problem is more noticeable.
Although the chronic malnutrition in childhood was able to reduce by 3.5%, according to the latest survey published by the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC), there are factors that prevent a faster elimination.
One of them has to do with the contamination of water for human consumption. According to the National Malnutrition Survey (ENDI), the 37% of children under five years old drinking contaminated water, especially with E.coli bacteria.
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on rural areas, the consumption of contaminated water can reach 56.5%, while in the cities 25.9%.
The World Health Organization (WHO) explains that E.coli bacteria “cause serious illness “foodborne illness that causes diarrhea, fever and vomiting.”
He added that “the main source of this disease is raw minced meat products or lack of cooking, raw milk, vegetables and water contaminated with fecal matter.
The body also warns that the disease may come endangering life of small children and the elderly when it produces hemolytic uremic syndrome, which is nothing but serious harm to pregnant women.
According to the WHO, this syndrome occurs more often in children with previous illnesses, overweight or malnutrition.
The head of the Ecuador Secretariat Growing Without Malnutrition, Erwin Ronquillo, recalled that chronic malnutrition It is not limited to lack of food. “A series of factors have come together to relate to access to drinking water and sanitationof parental education and poverty,” he explained.
And he maintains that the next Government must solve these problems to achieve the goal of reduce another seven points percent until 2030.
Dirty water all over the country
Data from the National Child Malnutrition Survey (ENDI) show that children in all provinces consumption in the country contaminated water.
on Amazon, But, they are concentrating worst indicators. In Morona Santiago and Orellana, for example, seven out of 10 children Children under the age of five drink water contaminated with E.coli bacteria.
While on Zamora Chinchipe and Napo, six out of 10 children under five also drink this untreated water.
On the contrary, Pichincha, Imbabura and Azuay They have better water quality, although they also register the presence of E.coli bacteria in a range of different 2% and 12%.
Credits for municipalities and prefectures
Secretary Ronquillo said that it has been given by the Government USD 269 million to municipalities and prefectures for providing drinking water and sanitation.
“We will finish the administration by delivering USD 335 million. In addition, we have negotiated credit lines so that these projects do not stop,” he added.
It refers to USD 100 million signed by the European Bank, to USD 120 million to be delivered by the Inter-American Development Bank and the USD 75 million developed by the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF).
