Vatican Dicastery calls for
efforts to confront water-related issues
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| Students in Rwanda wash their hands at a temporary hand washing pot (AFP) |
The Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human
Development publishes a document on the need to safeguard and care for the
planet’s water reservoirs and provide clean water to all.
By Linda Bordoni
Water is the only substance on earth that occurs naturally
in solid, liquid and gas forms. Without it there would be no life on our
planet. It is also a powerful spiritual symbol associated with the cleansing
and purification of the body and the spirit.
For Christians, baptism by water – itself a symbol of God’s
grace – signifies spiritual rebirth.
Aqua
fons vitae. Orientations on Water, symbol of the cry of the poor and the
cry of the Earth. This is the title of a new Vatican document
rooted in the Social Magisterium of the Popes, and inspired by work carried out
by national and local Churches in different countries.
The document distinguishes three aspects or dimensions
relating to water:
1) water for human use;
2) water as a resource used in many human activities, in
particular agriculture and industry;
3) water as a surface, namely rivers, underground aquifers,
lakes and especially oceans and seas.
For each aspect, the text presents the related challenges
and operational proposals to increase awareness of the issue and commitment at
local level.
The final part of the document proposes a reflection on
education and integrity.
In a press release on Monday, the Dicastery also announced
that a strategy is being defined to address the situation regarding water,
sanitation and hygiene (WASH). This will apply to health care facilities
belonging to the Catholic Church.
The press release notes that in poor and developing
countries too many sanitation facilities do not have adequate access to water
for the most basic needs of cleanliness and hygiene. This places billions of
people at risk.
Without clean water, sinks, soaps, toilets and hygiene
procedures patients, care staff and families lack the foundation or
infrastructure for decent, safe, quality care.
“Births, surgery, infections, epidemics: none of these can
be managed safely without water, and the situation is particularly alarming in
these weeks marked by the COVID-19 pandemic,” reads the communiqué.
Governments, NGOs, charities
The press release notes that “thousands of healthcare
facilities are functioning as they can without the safeguard of water that
cleans and protects life.” However, some world leaders in the health field have
become increasingly aware of this issue and are developing action plans to
address the problem.
The Catholic Church
The Catholic Church has been a pioneer and extremely
committed to health and health care on all continents in terms of its
commitment to health and health care.
The Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human
Development, is consulting with religious congregations, episcopal conferences,
Catholic development agencies and qualified experts in a concerted effort to
“encourage and support those already actively involved in this battle to save
lives.”
A starting point
The communiqué specifically mentions a collaboration with
Catholic Relief Services and Global Water 2020. It identifies these as partners
in its commitment to promote investigations in selected countries. It notes
that the results of this study, and other surveys, will be used as a starting point
for implementation and fundraising plans to support operational projects.
Organisations interested in joining this initiative may
contact the Dicastery (from
mid-April onwards) to request further information or discuss partnership
opportunities.
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