According to the latest World Health Organisation (WHO) report, approximately 30% of people worldwide, some 2.1 billion individuals, still lack access to safe, readily available drinking water. Another staggering 60%, or around 4.5 billion people still lack hygienic sanitation.

The overriding conclusion in the Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) report, Progress on drinking water, sanitation and hygiene: 2017 update and Sustainable Development Goal baselines, is that too many individuals still lack access, especially in rural areas.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General said: “Safe water, sanitation and hygiene at home should not be a privilege of only those who are rich or live in urban centres. These are some of the most basic requirements for human health, and all countries have a responsibility to ensure that everyone can access them.”

While, thanks to the Sustainable Development Goals, many individuals have gained access to basic drinking water and sanitation services since 2000, but that does not necessarily mean that they have safe water and sanitation. There are still many healthcare facilities, schools and private homes without even the basic hygiene of soap and water for handwashing. This results in excess of 361 000 children under the age of 5 dying every year due to diarrhoea. Poor sanitation and contaminated water are also linked to transmission of diseases such as typhoid, dysentery, hepatitis A, and cholera.

“Safe water, effective sanitation and hygiene are critical to the health of every child and every community – and thus are essential to building stronger, healthier, and more equitable societies. As we improve these services in the most disadvantaged communities and for the most disadvantaged children today, we give them a fairer chance at a better tomorrow” said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake.

If we are to decrease global inequalities, end open defecation and achieve universal access to basic services by 2030 as per the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we need to do a lot more – and do it a lot quicker!

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