District Governor’s Message
By: DG Marion Cheney, Dover RC
March is Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Month
Clean water, sanitation, and good hygiene are human rights. When people, especially children, have access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, they lead healthier, more successful lives.We don’t just build wells and walk away. Rotarians integrate water, sanitation, and hygiene into educational projects. When children learn about disease transmission and practice good hygiene, they miss less school. And they can take the lessons home to their families, expanding our impact.
Clean water is a basic human right that many are often denied. There are 2.5 million people in the world that lack access to improved sanitation and 748 million people that don’t have access to clean drinking water. Because of Rotary’s focus on clean water, 23 million more people now have clean water.
In 2015 the UN introduced their new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) to end poverty while protecting the environment and addressing climate change.
I encourage you to check out the WASH Rotary Action Group that was formed in 2007 by a group of Rotarians from around the world. WASH RAG supports and ensures sustainable long-lasting safe water, sanitation, and hygiene programs to communities in need. Go to wash-rag.org to learn more about the May 24th World Water Summit 16 on zoom or in person at the Rotary International Convention in Singapore.