During the week WaterAid will highlight the concerns of the millions of people around the world denied their human rights to water and sanitation. We will hold discussions with health ministers, host side events with sector partners, and keep you all updated by live-tweeting and blogging direct from Geneva.
The World Health Assembly is the annual gathering of all the world’s health ministers, to agree actions on urgent health issues.
WaterAid calls on ministers to prioritise water, sanitation and hygiene, particularly in healthcare facilities, as fundamental building blocks for patient safety, quality of care, for tackling threats like antibiotic-resistant ‘superbugs’, and for achieving the goal of Universal Health Coverage for everyone, everywhere by 2030.
Our top priority will be to persuade health ministers to agree a proposed World Health Assembly resolution on water, sanitation and hygiene in healthcare facilities. It is estimated by WHO and UNICEF that 45% of healthcare facilities in least developed countries do not have a basic water service, and 1.5 billion people had no sanitation service at their local healthcare facility. Without these essentials, good health care is impossible. A resolution would be a public, specific commitment by health ministers to take action to address this.
Do you know why it's important to transform health systems with WASH?
Making health systems better
WaterAid and its partners have influenced and supported government-led action to improve water, sanitation and hygiene in healthcare facilities globally. Learn about the approaches we have taken to strengthen health systems.
WHA in 2018
Last year was a busy year for WaterAid at the 71st World Health Assembly. Our achievements included:
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The delivery of several statements to World Health Assembly delegates and government ministers on topics including Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition; Early Childhood Development; World Health Organisation's (WHO) Global Programme of Work; Health, Environment and Climate Change;
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Meeting the Director-General of WHO Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and discussing the role of WASH in Universal Health Coverage and disease prevention;
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The adoption by WHO and members states of a WaterAid-backed resolution on cholera prevention and control;
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Participation at three side events on 'Women's Health & WASH', 'Universal Health Coverage and WASH' and 'End Cholera'.
289,000 children under five die each year from diarrhoeal diseases caused by poor water and sanitation. How can we improve the health and nutrition of our young ones?
Every year campaigners and health advisors at WaterAid produce reports, blogs and research on the importance of water, sanitation and hygiene to global health.
Read the news, highlights and statements from the 71st World Health Assembly, brought to you by delegates from WaterAid.
WaterAid delivered statements at the 71st World Health Assembly on topics related to WASH and healthcare. Read them here.