Re: 5-YEAR SANITATION COST STUDY; NEED WE WAIT SO LONG

The question 'what does it really cost to extend and sustain safe water and hygienic sanitation to poor communities in developing countries?' that the proposed 5-year research aims to answer is somewhat throbbing. It presents a similar picture of an expectant poor parent asking how much it really costs to nurture a baby into a full grown adult. Whether or not such portended study comes up with accurate cost information in the light of the current and future population dynamism; and however expensive it may be, the truth of the matter remains that presumptively continuous and concerted financial support for current and novel interventions is inevitable. Given the established fact that access to safe water and hygienic sanitation holds the key to achieving most of the identified MDGs, we may not necessarily need to wait too long to know precisely how much before taking the needed actions. Conclusively, while not being cynical about the said study, a balanced viewpoint would be; keep studying, but keep spending!