The Republic of Uzbekistan has officially joined the Protocol on Water and Health under the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
This decision was announced at the meeting of the protocol parties held in Budapest. This step holds strategic importance for Uzbekistan in the Central Asian region, where water resources are scarce and the impact of climate change is intensifying.
Thus, Uzbekistan became the 29th country to join the protocol. This protocol, in effect since 2005, is managed in cooperation with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe.
This document is the only legal instrument linking water resource management, ecology, and public health. Its main goal is to improve citizens' health and quality of life by ensuring access to quality drinking water and sanitation for all populations.
According to Olga Mirshina, a representative of the Committee on Sanitary-Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health of the Ministry of Health, Uzbekistan's geographical location and arid climate make the country highly vulnerable to water scarcity. She noted that this protocol is of great importance in developing safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene.
In particular, addressing water scarcity issues in rural areas remains one of the pressing challenges. According to international organizations, the level of drinking water supply in urban areas is 89 percent, while in rural areas this figure is only 71 percent.
Climate change forecasts indicate that by 2050, water resources in the Amu Darya basin may decrease by 10-15 percent, and in the Syr Darya basin by 2-5 percent. This situation poses a serious threat to agriculture as well as the overall health of the population.
By adopting the protocol, Uzbekistan has taken an important step towards setting national goals in water supply and sanitation, establishing an advanced monitoring system, and achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 6 aimed at ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. These efforts will contribute to the country's sustainable development and improving the well-being of its population.
