The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) presented a joint statement calling for the radical acceleration of making water, hygiene, and sanitation (WASH), accessible for all at the UN water conference which started on March 22.
“The numbers are staggering – around the world, 2 billion people lack safe drinking water and 3.6 billion people – almost half the world’s population – use sanitation services that leave human waste untreated,” said the statement, explaining that millions of children and families do not dispose of WASH service which subjects them to grave risks.
The organizations reminded that right now, Cholera is spreading in various countries that haven’t had an outbreak of it in years, which adds up to millions of dying children because of unsafe water and poor sanitation.
This lack of water and sanitation has economic and social repercussions as well, which can be witnessed through children falling ill, missing school, and such.
WHO and UNICEF are urging nations to take action as they both presented several solutions at the UN water conference such as developing a plan for increased political commitment to safely manage drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene, including outreach to leaders at all levels of government and engaging with civil society groups.
They also suggested coming up with a strategy for strengthening governance and institutions required to deliver these services, such as by establishing autonomous regulatory agencies that enforce health-based standards and regularly publish findings.
As for financing and funding, the institutions explained the need to draw clear policy objectives to guide funding and financing decisions for WASH, as well as increasing public spending to recognize WASH’s value as a public good.
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