BELFAST, Northern Ireland — With the onset of COVID-19, many governments in lower-income countries have recognized the urgency of providing water as a first line of defense against infectious diseases.
But as many governments work quickly to boost the availability of water supplies, some water and sanitation advocates worry that these efforts will provide only short-term solutions.
“We want to ensure that the momentum from the coronavirus is being taken forward and not all wasted,” explained Rosemary Campbell, head of water at Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor, a nonprofit that helps transform cities’ access to water and sanitation.