Health Implications of Improved Water Supply in Rural Ghana

Water is an essential ingredient in all facets of human and economic development. Water has a direct impact on human health and any deterioration in quality affects human well-being. Lack of access to safe water is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Nevertheless, a considerable number of people around the world lack access to safe drinking water. Inevitably the burden of poor access to safe water falls primarily on the poorest of the poor. Until recently, little attention was paid to rural water supply in Ghana. Rural communities traditionally depended on surface and groundwater sources for their water supply needs. Various rural water supply programs implemented have significantly increased improved rural water supply access. Consequentially, the incidence of water related diseases has reduced and general livelihood development is evident. This book is useful for policy makers, researchers and Non-Governmental Organizations who are interested in the evaluation of water supply programs.