Sanitation saves lives and cuts poverty says local MP

5.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 1st May 2008

basic sanitation is vital in developing countries and impacts on education -particuarly for females, Malcolm Bruce told the Commons

Illness, poverty, school absenteeism and death in poor countries are all aggravated by lack of the most basic sanitation, Gordon MP Malcolm Bruce MP told the House of Commons this afternoon.

Mr Bruce was opening a debate on a report produced by the International Development Committee which he chairs on Sanitation and Water.

The Gordon MP said:

"Clean water is of course essential to life but lack of sanitation pollutes the environment and spreads diseases which cause death and illness. Yet if people provide their own pit latrines and wash their hands they will be healthier and many of the millions of children who die before they are five would survive."

Mr Bruce praised a community sanitation and water initiative the committee visited in Ethiopia and said he hoped that increased funds being provided by the Department for International Development would help deliver more.

In reply DFID minister Gareth Thomas said he hoped the department's additional funding would help 3 million more Ethiopians gains access to sanitation.

ENDS