While clear linkages between poverty and ill-health are evident, rarely do governments and aid agencies consider the improvement of health as a potential strategy for reducing poverty.
Economic development remains the favoured option for poverty reduction.
While the health sector is expected to deliver good care and provide an acceptable level of community health, resources to effectively fulfil these two essential tasks are often lacking. Water may provide an entry point to support health and development. Local Communities And Civil Society Communities can manage water supply for households or irrigation effectively if backed-up by government and private aid agencies. International NGOs are well-positioned to support their local counterparts and to engage in international advocacy. Epidemiological networks can bring water-health problems to the attention of other professionals.