Having proper drinking water and sanitation is an ongoing problem, not only in Fiji but in the Pacific.
These are sentiments echoed by Tiy Chung, a Communications adviser from the Pacific Islands Applied Geosciences Commission at the MDG Workshop held in Suva.
Chung added that having safe water supply will contribute directly to proper sanitation, however, that is not the case in most of the islands in the Pacific.
The United Nations Millennium Project Task Force on Water and Sanitation defines safe drinking water, as water that is safe to drink and available in sufficient quantities for hygienic purposes.
Looking at Fiji's case, according to a study carried out by UNICEF in 2008, 87 percent of its population in the urban areas had proper sanitation while only 55 percent of its population in the rural areas have proper sanitation.
With regards to water, it was noted that in 2008, 51 percent of the rural population in Fiji were provided with safe drinking water while in the urban areas, only 43 percent of the population receive adequate water supply.
According to SOPAC, these numbers should increase as the Government of Fiji aims to change all the old water pipes that have existed for more than 30 years.
Story by: Selina Navuso
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Proper drinking water a problem in the Pacific
