Global Burden of Unsafe Drinking Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene | 06 Jul 2023

Why in News?

According to a new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) titled "Burden of Disease Attributable to Unsafe Drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene: 2019 Update," unsafe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices have led to severe consequences, resulting in a significant loss of lives and widespread disease burden.

What are the Impacts of Unsafe WASH Practices?

• Mortality Toll:
  • In 2019, unsafe WASH practices caused 395,000 deaths among children under the age of five.
  • Breakdown of Deaths:
    • 273,000 deaths were attributed to diarrhoea.
    • 112,000 deaths were caused by acute respiratory infections.
  • Inadequate access to WASH services resulted in at least 1.4 million deaths globally.
• Widespread Disease Impact:
  • Diarrhoeal diseases accounted for over a million deaths and 55 million Disability-adjusted life years (DALY).
    • DALY is the sum of the number of years of life lost due to premature death and a weighted measure of the years lived with disability due to a disease or injury.
  • An estimated 1.5 billion people worldwide are affected by soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH), transmitted through poor sanitation practices.
    • STH are transmitted by eggs in human faeces, which in turn contaminate soil in areas where sanitation is poor.
  • Inadequate WASH contributes to 10% of the disease burden associated with malnutrition.
• Global Disparities in WASH Access:
  • Currently, 771 million people lack access to safe water globally.
  • Approximately 1.7 billion people do not have access to proper sanitation facilities.
• Consequences for Low and High-Income Countries:
  • Poor hand hygiene practices led to around 384,000 diarrhoea-related deaths across all age groups in Africa and South-East Asia.
  • Even high-income countries, such as the United States, experienced risks, with 33,200 deaths from diarrhoeal diseases and 317,921 deaths from acute respiratory infections in 2019.

What are Unsafe WASH Practices?

• Drinking water from contaminated or untreated sources, such as polluted rivers or stagnant ponds.
• Absence or poor maintenance of toilets, latrines, or sewage systems can result in the improper disposal of human waste.
• Insufficient handwashing with soap, improper food handling practices, and lack of awareness about basic hygiene.
• The practice of defecating in the open, without the use of a toilet or latrine contaminates the environment, water sources, and food.
• Inadequate disposal of solid waste and improper handling of hazardous waste can pollute water sources, contaminate soil, and create breeding grounds for disease-carrying vectors.

What is WASH?

• About:
  • WASH is an acronym that stands for the interrelated areas of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene.
  • The WHO WASH Strategy has been developed in response to Member State Resolution (WHA 64.4) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
  • It is a component of WHO’s 13^th General Programme of Work 2019–2023 which aims to contribute to the health of three billion through multisectoral actions like better emergency preparedness and response; and one billion with Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
  • It also takes on board the need for progressive realization of the human rights to safe drinking-water and sanitation, adopted by the UN General Assembly in July 2010.
• Importance of Safe WASH:
  • Access to clean water, proper sanitation, and hygiene reduces the risk of illness, malnutrition, and mortality.
  • Safe WASH facilities contribute to child and maternal health, ensuring safer childbirth practices and preventing child growth and development issues.
  • Gender-responsive WASH services empower women and girls, promoting gender equality and dignity.
  • Sustainable WASH practices protect water resources, conserve the environment, and mitigate climate change impacts.
  • Safe WASH is crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and creating healthier, more equitable communities.
• Principles of the WHO WASH Strategy:
  • Prioritize actions with high public health benefits in WHO-relevant areas.
  • Strengthen health sector capacities for safe WASH and outbreak response.
  • Align with SDGs on WASH, health, climate, nutrition, and human rights.
  • Utilize high-quality science and evidence for WASH norms and procedures.
  • Promote incremental improvements in national WASH standards and targets.
  • Capitalize on existing regional WASH policy frameworks and targets.
  • Stimulate sustainable change through stronger government institutions.
  • Engage partners to address health issues in the WASH sector, including healthcare facilities.
• SDGs Linked to WASH:
  • Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being - WASH is essential for preventing the spread of diseases and promoting good health.
  • Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation - This goal specifically addresses the need for access to clean drinking water and adequate sanitation facilities.
  • Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production - WASH is critical to ensure responsible consumption and production of water resources.
  • Goal 13: Climate Action - Climate change can impact access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene, making WASH an important component of climate action.

Source: DTE