The concept of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), as endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO), is profoundly linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A recent report from WHO titled ‘Burden of Disease Attributable to Unsafe Drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene: 2019 Update’ has illuminated the devastating effects of unsafe WASH practices globally, leading to significant loss of lives and widespread diseases.
The Devastating Effects of Unsafe WASH Practices
In 2019, unsafe WASH practices were responsible for an alarming 395,000 deaths of children under five years old. Broken down, 273,000 deaths were due to diarrhoea, and acute respiratory infections resulted in 112,000 deaths. The lack of adequate access to WASH services contributed to at least 1.4 million deaths globally. Diarrhoeal diseases accounted for over a million deaths and 55 million Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH) affected an estimated 1.5 billion people due to inadequate sanitation practices. Also, malnourishment-related disease burden is 10% due to poor WASH practices.
Global Discrepancy in Access to WASH Services
Moreover, 771 million people worldwide are without access to safe water, and about 1.7 billion don’t have proper sanitation facilities. Poor hand hygiene has resulted in approximately 384,000 diarrhoea-linked deaths across Africa and South-East Asia, affecting all age groups. High-income countries, including the United States, have not escaped risks associated with poor WASH practices.
Unsafe WASH Practices Defined
Unsafe WASH practices include consuming contaminated or untreated water; lack of or poorly maintained sanitation facilities resulting in improper disposal of human waste; inadequate handwashing and food handling protocols; defecating in open areas, leading to environmental contamination; and improper disposal of solid and hazardous waste creating environments conducive to disease-carrying vectors.
Understanding WASH
WASH is an acronym for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene. The WHO’s WASH strategy aims to improve the health of three billion people through better emergency preparedness and response and universal health coverage. It also recognises the necessity for realising human rights to safe drinking-water and sanitation.
The Significance of Safe WASH Practices
Access to clean water, adequate sanitation, and good hygiene drastically reduces illness risks, malnutrition, and mortality. Safe WASH facilities contribute immensely to child and maternal health, assure safer childbirth practices, and prevent child growth and developmental issues. Additionally, they empower women and girls by promoting gender equality and dignity. Moreover, sustainable WASH practices conserve water resources, protect the environment, and help mitigate climate change.
WHO WASH Strategy Principles
The principles underpinning the WHO WASH strategy prioritise actions with high benefits in public health, strengthen health sector capacities, align with SDGs on various themes, utilise robust science and evidence, promote improvements in national standards, stimulate sustainable change through stronger government institutions, and engage partners in the healthcare sector.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and WASH
Several SDGs relate directly to WASH: Goal 3 advocates for good health and well-being, which WASH plays a critical role in; Goal 6 calls for clean water and sanitation, addressing the core components of WASH; Goal 12 speaks to responsible consumption and production which ties to sustainable WASH practices; and Goal 13 highlights climate action, a key concern for keeping reliable and safe WASH facilities.
To effectively implement policies addressing the water, sanitation and hygiene needs, it’s crucial to sync the identification of beneficiary segments with expected outcomes. This principle is especially relevant in the context of the WASH scheme.
