20,000 Vietnamese Die of Water-Related Diseases Yearly

Vietnam is estimated to have more than 20,000 citizens died of diseases relevant to unhygienic and dirty water yearly, an official of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said. Diarrhea is blamed for half of these fatalities, UNICEF Representative Chief in Vietnam Lotta Sylwander was cited by the state-run Vietnam News Agency as saying late Nov 30. Only 18% of rural people across the country are aware of using hygienic latrines for diarrhea prevention and only 2% know that parasitic diseases can be prevented by washing hands with soaps. Once locals are aware of the importance of clean water and environmental sanitation, they will take practical activities to improve the situation and maintain achievements for a long term, said Sylwander. Vietnam targets to raise ratio of rural residents accessing to clean water to 83%-85% and the ratio of rural households having hygienic latrines to 60% of by the 2010-end. (vietnamplus.vn Nov 30)