The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #40824

Arthur Cohen, JD, MPH, SANIPLAN.ORG, 68 Vassar Street, Worcester, MA 01602-1535, (508) 798-3388, artc@splusnet.com

SANIPLAN.ORG is a World Wide Web-based project designed to improve community water supply and sanitation in many large cities in the developing world - a problem of great concern to global public health. Hundreds of millions of persons live in so-called "peri-urban" communities (barrios, favellas, squatter settlements, shanty towns, etc.) which are located in and around most of these large cities. These areas are notorious for being extremely underserved by community systems for water supply and sanitation, leaving their residents, especially children, with constant and debilitating diarrheal diseases and increased vulnerability to many other health threats. Oral rehydration has not eliminated this risk to the public's health. A specially designed web site, www.saniplan.org, launched in February 2001 (in four languages), focuses on obtaining data and progress assessment on water supply and sanitation in 107 large cities (population 2,000,000 or more) and their peri-urban communities. This project hopes to contribute to existing collaborative international efforts to support the political will necessary to provide vastly increased water supply and sanitation for the millions of residents of these communities. The presentation will demonstrate the web site and report on initial results of the project. Information will be available for participants interested in joining the project.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to discuss the advantages and constraints of an international World Wide Web-based effort to develop timely data, progress assessment, and greater support for increased water supply and sanitation in the 107 largest cities of the developing world.

Keywords: Water Quality, Environmental Health

Related Web page: www.saniplan.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Saniplan.org - a World Wide Web-based project to begin an international non-governmental organization with the same name. There are no funds or products involved yet with this organization.
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Founder of organization, Saniplan.org. No funds or products involved yet with this organization