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‘Fatal Neglect’ report shows the biggest killer of under-fives being ignored in Timor Leste
18 November 2009 Figures released by WaterAid Australia ahead of World Toilet Day (19 November 09) show that underfunding of basic sanitation in Timor-Leste contributes to 5,000 child deaths annually. Fatal Neglect Supplement (  PDF File 69KB)
WaterAid Australia CEO Adam Laidlaw said, ‘These figures show that more than one thousand children under five years of age are dying of diseases caused by bad sanitation every year, yet this receives a tiny fraction of the overall development budget in Timor- Leste.’ ‘The ‘Fatal Neglect’ report proves that we know what works. The quickest, cheapest and most sustainable way that Australian aid dollars can save lives in Timor-Leste is to provide water and sanitation. ‘We congratulate the Government for implementing its election policy of shifting $300 million of the international aid budget to provision of clean water, toilets and sanitation services, but more needs to be done. ‘The bad news is that official aid programmes are not doing enough to prevent diarrhoea, which takes the lives of more than 4,000 children each day and 1.6 million every year. It is the biggest killer of children in Timor Leste and the second-leading killer of children under age 5 globally after acute respiratory infections like pneumonia.’ ‘If a child is malnourished or regularly ill during the first few years of life, there are consequential negative effects on future cognitive development, education and productivity. ‘The good news is that diarrhoea rates can be slashed by 36% when people have the facilities to safely dispose of faeces and another 45% by simply washing their hands with soap and water,’ said Mr Laidlaw. To read more findings from the global Fatal Neglect report click here Available for interview: For all media enquiries/interviews please contact:
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