During the week we highlighted the concerns of the millions of people around the world denied their human rights to water and sanitation. We held discussions with health ministers, hosted side events with sector partners, and kept you all updated by live-tweeting and blogging direct from Geneva. And we were thrilled when members passed a resolution on water, sanitation and hygiene in healthcare facilities!
The World Health Assembly is the annual gathering of all the world’s health ministers, to agree actions on urgent health issues.
We called 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 was to persuade health ministers to agree a proposed World Health Assembly resolution on water, sanitation and hygiene in healthcare facilities – and we were delighted when they did. WHO and UNICEF estimate 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 healthcare is impossible.
The resolution was 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
With our partners, we 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.
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 72nd World Health Assembly, brought to you by delegates from WaterAid.
WaterAid co-hosted two side events at the WHA. Find out more via the links below.
WaterAid Tanzania discuss the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach to improving access to water, sanitation and hygiene in healthcare facilities.
In a world first, the number of healthcare facilities with sufficient water, sanitation and hygiene standards has been measured, exposing a worldwide healthcare crisis.
We delivered statements at the WHA on the importance of water, sanitation and hygiene in healthcare facilities. Read them here.