The President of Madagascar has water and sanitation close to his heart

Investing in water and sanitation can bring great economic returns.

Credit: WaterAid / Marco Betti

19 August

The President of Madagascar, His Excellency Marc Ravalomanana, is the only African President attending this year's World Water Week in Stockholm.

Nearly 600 million Africans, representing more than 60 percent of the continent's population, do not have access to safe sanitation and 1 million Africans die every year from hygiene, water and sanitation related diseases.

Hearing the President speak, just two weeks after he created Madagascar's Ministry of Water and Sanitation, leaves no doubt that the subject is close to his heart. "Water and sanitation is a subject I care about... Investing in sanitation brings far greater economic returns. Investing $1 USD in sanitation saves $9 USD in the other sectors."

Speaking at World Water Week's opening ceremony, which attracted more than 2,400 people, the President admitted that Madagascar still faces a lot of challenges. "About  12 million of the country's 19 million people do not have access to safe water while close to 14 million people do not have proper toilet facilities."

The President emphasised that leaders have a greater role to play in improving sanitation and access to safe water while calling on donors, international institutions and the private sector to act on the issue. The President stated the need for increased investment and training to build life saving infrastructures for water service delivery. He noted that the Africa Union summit, which is due to take in Madagascar in March 2009, provides an opportunity for continued dialogue on water and sanitation on the African continent.