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World Water Day is celebrated annually on 22 March. It’s a day to reflect on the importance of global access to clean water and sanitation, and the sustainable use of water. It’s an opportunity to recognise the pivotal role clean water and sanitation play in daily life, supporting economic, social and human development.

Did you know?

  • 1.4 million people die every year and 74 million will have their lives shortened by diseases related to poor water, sanitation and hygiene.
  • 1 in 4 people – 2 billion people worldwide – lack safe drinking water.
  • Almost half of the global population – 3.6 billion people – lack safe sanitation.

The focus for World Water Day 2024 is leveraging water for peace. This year’s World Water Day theme focuses on fostering a more harmonious attitude and understanding towards water – that it is a basic human right not something to be fought over. Instead, we should take collective action to help protect this precious resource and ensure that everyone has access to a supply of clean, safe water.

To help you get involved, we’ve put together five ways that you can make an impact this World Water Day 2024. 

1. Practice responsible use of water

Take up the challenge to be more mindful of your own water usage. If you find you use a lot of water, try to reduce your usage during your day-to-day routine. 

Some suggestions to reduce your water use include:

  • Turning off the tap while you brush your teeth
  • Using the half flush on the toilet instead of the full when possible
  • Taking 2 minute showers 
  • Making sure your dishwasher is full before turning it on
  • Fixing leaking taps and toilets

2. Watch documentaries on water to educate yourself

As World Water Day is focused on raising awareness about the importance of clean water and sanitation, one way to gain a better understanding of water-related issues is by watching documentaries. There are a number of high-quality films available, often on YouTube or Netflix. 

Some documentaries we would recommend  include; ‘The World’s Water Crisis, ‘Kenya’s Water Women’ and ‘A World Without Water’. 

3. Visit the United Nations World Water Day website

Another way to get informed is to visit the official World Water Day website, which includes an abundance of resources, stories and information on how to become involved with World Water Day. 

4. Raise awareness on social media

Social media is one of the most effective ways to raise awareness. This World Water Day, we encourage you to share news, facts, statistics, videos or stories on your various social media channels to let your network know about the importance of clean water and sanitation, and sustainable water use. The more people that share information on their social channels, the greater the reach.

5. Donate to help those without access to clean water and sanitation

Celebrate World Water Day 2022

This World Water Day, you can give the gift of clean water and sanitation to those who need it most. Everyone should have the right to access clean water and sanitation around the globe. 

ChildFund Australia’s Gifts For Good range is a fantastic initiative for donations this World Water Day. Gifts For Good incorporates a number of water-based gifts that have the power to change lives. 

You can help provide children and families overseas with access to clean water and sanitation by donating:

  • Hand pump well: This will provide clean water for children and their families for drinking, cleaning and bathing. Children may no longer have to make long, dangerous journeys on foot to collect water from unreliable, contaminated sources. This will also offer children the protection from the risk of deadly waterborne diseases.
  • Deepwater borehole: Imagine your impact when you give the gift of clean water that a whole school – or even an entire community – can rely upon for years to come.
  • Hand washing station: This is a simple gift with the power to help everyone in a community improve sanitation and hygiene, and stay healthy. 

Disasters such as drought, disease and conflict has led to millions of people around the world in need of emergency clean water assistance. You can help prevent their suffering with a gift of clean water.

In Kenya alone, more than a million of people in need are children and mothers, who are malnourished and urgently need food and water. Your donation to ChildFund’s Hunger Crisis Appeal can help upgrade and maintain water facilities in communities, and provide water trucks in schools and water purifiers for families.


Celebrate World Water Day this March! 

However you choose to celebrate World Water Day, do it in an impactful and meaningful way for you and your community. Take on one or all of these five tips to ensure you mark World Water Day in a way that truly makes a difference.

Infectious and non-infectious diseases are very different. An infectious disease can be transmitted from one person to another, while a non-infectious disease cannot be spread through person-to-person contact. 

To help you better understand the difference between infectious and non-infectious diseases, we’ve defined and compared the two below.

What is an infectious disease?

Infectious diseases are caused by pathogenic micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites. These micro-organisms are contagious, meaning they can be transmitted from one person to another. 

Examples of infectious diseases include the common cold, COVID-19, SARS and tuberculosis. Find out more about 7 Common Infectious Diseases here.

What is a non-infectious disease?

Non-infectious diseases are not caused by pathogens and therefore cannot be spread from one person to another. Instead, non-infectious diseases are caused by factors such as genetics, malnutrition, environment and lifestyle. 

Some examples of non-infectious diseases include cardiovascular diseases (such as heart attacks and stroke), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma), and diabetes. Other examples include Parkinson’s disease, autoimmune diseases, strokes, heart diseases, chronic kidney disease, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and cataracts.

What are the main differences between an infectious and non-infectious disease?

1. Infectious diseases are communicable, non-infectious diseases are not

Infectious diseases are contagious, meaning that a person can contract the illness if they are exposed to carriers of the disease.

As we have witnessed with the rapid spread of COVID-19, infectious disease can be easily transferred through direct contact. This includes when someone comes into contact with an infected person for a period of time, their body fluids, or surfaces that the disease carriers have touched. 

Non-infectious diseases, however, are non-communicable, meaning they cannot be transmitted through exposure to a carrier. Instead, they appear or grow due to factors such as gene mutations, malnutrition, environmental toxins and lifestyle.

2. Infectious diseases are caused by the transmission of a pathogen

Infectious diseases are transmitted from person-to-person through the transfer of a pathogen such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites. A non-infectious disease cannot be transmitted through a pathogen and is caused by a variety of other circumstantial factors.

3. Prevention strategies for infectious disease focuses on stopping the spread

Infectious disease and non-infectious disease require different prevention strategies to protect individuals or groups from falling ill. 

Prevention strategies for infectious disease focus on isolating individuals who have the disease to protect the broader population, and vaccinating against known strains to prevent transmission. 

During a pandemic, or outbreak, certain measures may be taken to stop the spread, such as disinfecting surfaces that are frequently touched. Individuals are also encouraged to wash their hands regularly with soap and warm water, and to self-isolate if they develop signs or symptoms to prevent transmission.

4. Preventative measures for non-infectious diseases are lifestyle and contextually-focused

Preventative measures for non-infectious disease are focused on lifestyle choices and patterns, which have been identified as potentially effective through clinical research. You can reduce your risk of contracting Type 2 diabetes, for example, by maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly and consuming a balanced diet. 

Not all non-infectious diseases, however, can be prevented. Some can develop as a result of an individual’s genetic history, lifestyle or age. While you can prevent alcoholic liver damage by abstaining from drinking or consuming alcohol less frequently, the liver can also be damaged by exposure to hazardous chemicals and toxins.

Help stop the spread of infectious diseases in developing countries

The COVID-19 pandemic meant that infectious disease made headlines throughout the world. However, it is not the only infectious disease – there are many more affecting developing communities in countries across the Asia-Pacific region.  

In Papua New Guinea, for example, tuberculosis has had a devastating impact on the health system. “Outbreaks cause more harm where the infrastructure is less,” says Dr Deborah Bettels, World Health Organisation Expanded Programme on Immunisation Coordinator, Papua New Guinea. “They strain the routine healthcare system. They cause sickness always, they may cause death.”

You can help stop the spread of infectious diseases by donating one of the following Gifts for Good that helps provide clean water, or improve hygiene and sanitation in communities living in poverty.

  • Hand washing station: This is a simple gift with the power to help everyone in a community improve sanitation and hygiene, and stay healthy. 
  • Hand pump well: This will provide clean water for children and their families for drinking, cleaning and bathing. Children may no longer have to make long, dangerous journeys on foot to collect water from unreliable, contaminated sources. This will also offer children the protection from the risk of deadly waterborne diseases.
  • Restock a health station: Help restock a health station with desperately needed medicines, medical supplies, personal protective equipment and other necessities to ensure that children and families have ready access to the care and resources they need to stay healthy.



Prevent the spread of infectious disease today!

You can help increase access to quality health care and prevent the spread of infectious diseases for children like Jenny (pictured below) in Papua New Guinea. “I am worried I will lose one of my children,” Mary, Jenny’s mother, told ChildFund in 2020 after Jenny was diagnosed with TB.

Find out how your donation helps kids like Jenny.

Jenny (right) with her friend in PNG.