With WK “Big Kenny” Alphin and Dr. Randy Wykoff, I am launching #Conversation2015, a look at the opportunities we have to make dramatic changes through compassion and caring. Read the introduction to the project here and the overview of safe food and water here. Then join the conversation on Twitter and Facebook: #Conversation2015

For many Americans it is a shock to realize there are still more than 2 billion people without access to clean water and 40% of the world population is without access to a toilet. The daily chore of securing clean water – clearly a necessity of life — can take up to eight hours a day and quite frankly be a life threatening endeavor in itself. As a result, over 3 million people a year are believed to die from water-related diseases.

Access to clean water, and the ability to keep it clean by not having it contaminated with human waste, industrial by-products, mining effluents, or other pollutants, is absolutely essential to improving health.

Even in the absence of significant famines, it is estimated that each year over half of all deaths of children under five are associated with malnutrition. This translates into almost 20,000 deaths per day.

As the world’s population grows, there will be a growing tension on the supply of food and water. Furthermore, regional disruptions in the food supply—from hurricanes, fires, earthquakes, or man-made disasters—will impact increasing numbers of people. For locations that are already without a supportive infrastructure, their communities are one natural disaster away from desolation of their community.

My global health organization, Hope Through Healing Hands, works with some excellent organizations addressing these issues. How can we all help?