A recent report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) titled “Burden of disease attributable to unsafe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene: 2019 update” sheds light on the devastating impact of inadequate access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and proper hygiene (WASH). The report presents alarming statistics regarding the burden of disease and calls for immediate action to address this global crisis.
The Burden of Disease:
- The report provides estimates of the burden of disease attributable to unsafe WASH for 183 WHO Member States, considering factors such as region, age, and sex for the year 2019. The estimates focus on four major health outcomes: diarrhoea, acute respiratory infections, undernutrition, and soil-transmitted helminthiases.
- Disturbingly, the report reveals that in 2019 alone, approximately 395,000 children under the age of five lost their lives due to the lack of access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene. Among these deaths, 273,000 were caused by diarrhoea, and 112,000 were caused by acute respiratory infections. These diseases remain the top two infectious causes of death among children globally.
Disparities and Impact:
More than three-quarters of WASH-attributable deaths occurred in the WHO African and South-East Asia regions, highlighting the urgent need for intervention in these areas. Additionally, the report states that 89% of these deaths occurred in low- and lower-middle-income countries. However, even high-income countries are not immune, as 18% of their diarrhoeal disease burden could be prevented through improved hand hygiene practices.
Urgent Actions for Governments:
The WHO emphasizes the need for governments to take immediate actions in collaboration with UN agencies, multilateral partners, the private sector, and civil society organizations. The following key actions are highlighted:
- Radically Accelerate Action: Governments are urged to accelerate efforts to ensure universal access to safe WASH. The mid-term comprehensive review of the International Decade for Action Towards the Sustainable Development Goals witnessed renewed commitments from governments to expedite progress in this area.
- Focus on the Poorest and Most Disadvantaged: Inadequate access to WASH is a major driver of the disease burden, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. National estimates should account for disparities within countries to ensure that efforts are targeted towards those most in need.
- Adapt Monitoring Systems: Governments should update and adapt national and local monitoring systems to reflect the higher service levels required by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This will enable a more accurate understanding of the full burden of disease associated with unsafe WASH.
