Rural Batswana at lifestyle disease risk

Arecent United Nations (UN) report spotlights the vulnerability of rural Batswana to lifestyle diseases due to inadequate access to safe water.

According to UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment, David Boyd, water scarcity compels some families and communities to resort to unsafe water sources, leading to diarrheal diseases that contribute significantly to under-five mortality in Botswana.

He highlights in the report that challenges in water supply, water quality, and sanitation were observed during his 2015 visit as the UN Special Rapporteur. Although the government has made progress since then, with 93% of the population having basic access to improved drinking water, a disparity between urban and rural areas persists.

The report also notes that five percent of the population in Botswana resorts to open defecation, a practice involving the disposal of human faeces in open spaces.

“Many people living in rural areas in Botswana lack access to safe and sufficient drinking water that meets international human rights standards,” the report states. Boyd emphasises that water standards should encompass sufficient quantity, reliable supply, quality, affordability, and accessibility, even in schools. He recommends advancing the goal of eliminating open defecation by 2036, urging the prioritisation of resources to address this challenge.

“While visiting Habu, Kuke and Ghanzi, I heard compelling testimony about people’s strong desire for access to safe and sufficient water as well as adequate sanitation. In Kuke, I watched a large line-up of individuals, mainly women and girls, waiting to fill containers from one of only two standpipes that provide water for a community of more than 1,000 people,” the Special Rapporteur further shared. “The government of Botswana has a legal obligation to ensure that everyone has access to safe and sufficient water where they live, work, study and play. Human rights law is clear that the allocation of water must prioritise human rights first, and the needs of ecosystems second because healthy ecosystems are essential for the full enjoyment of multiple human rights and industry needs come third. To make matters worse, climate science indicates that levels of precipitation across Botswana will continue to decline in the coming years, while the population is projected to grow, exacerbating water scarcity,” he continued.

According to the report on adapting to climate change, Botswana must take preventive and precautionary measures to ensure safe and sufficient water for everyone, prioritising the human rights of those people whose rights are currently not being fulfilled.

“For example, the water in Ghanzi often suffers from high saline concentrations, meaning the Government should consider building one or more drinking water treatment plants,” the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment suggests. The report concludes by advocating for a just social and ecological transition, emphasising the integration of human rights into laws and policies to address climate and environmental challenges effectively. Boyd asserts: “This is a legal obligation, not an option.”

Five percent of the population in Botswana resorts to open defecation, a practice involving the disposal of human faeces in open spaces