Healthy waters. What every health professional should know about water

OVERALL RATING Fair

STRENGTHS Quick read; important issue; some good references

WEAKNESSES Not enough specifics for health care professionals

AUDIENCE Health professionals

Dr Magee uses the Web (through a weekly Internet-based electronic media program, which is supported by the Pfizer Medical Humanities Initiative) to promote discussion of health issues at a consumer or generalist level. This book covers Dr Magee’s journey to understand the global crisis of water as a resource, with respect to its management and subsequent effects on health. It covers issues such as water and agriculture, industry, and energy. Although it includes references from the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, and others. Dr Magee uses several figures that don’t always add value, and at times the text seems repetitive. Much of the information would be known to any informed citizen.

In the epilogue, Dr Magee returns full circle to the complexity, interconnectedness, and seriousness of global water issues. The book ends with starting points for health professionals; however, these suggestions are very preliminary.

I agree with Dr Magee that health professionals have much to offer when addressing the global water crisis. But this book was too long to be a concise “call to action” and not long enough to address the expectations raised by the title. Most health professionals want specific effective strategies that address patient, practice, and association concerns.

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