The Kuwait Scientific Center yesterday marked World Water Day, with an event involving various activities, including workshops hosted by prominent figures, as well as a walkathon for youngsters.

The United Nations member countries decided in 1992 to make March 22 the annual occasion to highlight the need to implement UN recommendations on water conservation and to promote practical activities to help people learn about the world's invaluable water resources.

Amna Al-Dhubaib, the director of the KSC's education committee, told the Kuwait Times that every year one of the various UN agencies involved in water conservation issues takes the lead in promoting and coordinating the international activities for World Water Day.

In Kuwait this year, the KSC is holding various events associated with the annual celebration, she said, explaining, "The main activities for World Water Day will be the walkathon for contestants aged between 12 and 18, a set of practical workshops and a lecture entitled 'Water Quality In Kuwait' by Dr Fatma Al-Awadhi, the director of water resources with the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science.

The event, which began at 2 PM was attended by many individuals and families, with prominent local sporting figures Kuwaiti soccer midfielder Bader Al-Mutawa and the country's fencing champions Balsam and Lulwa Al-Ayoob coming along to promote the day and raise awareness about the importance of sustaining healthy ecosystems and human wellbeing through maintaining water quality.

The event focuses on encouraging governments, organizations and communities around the world to proactively engage in conserving water and maintaining water quality by pollution prevention, water purification and restoring natural environments to help create better ecosystems. - Kuwait Times