Nane Annan stresses importance of hygiene education at World Water Forum

Nane Annan, wife of United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, participated today in the Third World Water Forum in Kyoto, Japan, where experts have gathered to seek ideas to forestall a future water crisis caused by population growth, pollution and climate change.

Addressing a session on "Sanitation, Water Supply and Water Pollution: for better health and sustainable environment," Mrs. Annan emphasized the need for hygiene education as well as affordable, healthy water and sanitation systems, saying that "without hygiene, water and sanitation can only go so far."

Almost 6,000 children die from diarrhoeal diseases every day and "this to a large extent is preventable" through hygiene education, she added.

Tomorrow, Mrs. Annan will help launch a campaign to ensure safe water and clean, separate sanitation facilities for boys and girls in primary schools, as well as hygiene education.