Improving access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene

Preventable water-related diseases still claim tens of thousands of lives, especially among children under five-years-old.

World Water Day 2019, which will be observed on 22 March, underscores the basic right of all citizens to health protection, through access to safely managed drinking-water supply and sanitation, and good hygiene behaviours. This year's theme, “Leaving no one behind”,  opens increased opportunities to support Member States in promoting health and equitable access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services.

WPRO is committed to interventions on climate change, especially those affecting the social and environmental determinants of health – clean air, safe drinking-water and sanitation, sufficient food and secure shelter.

WPRO promotes and supports WASH action on the following:

• Development of water safety plans.
• Improve the status of WASH in health-care facilities.
• Supporting household water treatment and safe storage initiatives to
  improve the quality of drinking-water and reduce the transmission of
  waterborne diseases.
• Promoting safely-managed rainwater harvesting in the communities,
  schools and healthcare facilities.
• Supporting the Fit for School and the Three Star approaches in
  schools.
• Assisting in monitoring activities.
• Serving, jointly with the United Nations Environment Programme
  (UNEP), as the international secretariat to the Thematic Working
  Group on WASH.
• Supporting Member States in developing plans to increase the
  resilience of WASH and reduce the vulnerability of populations in
  facing climate change.
• Providing WASH-related support during disasters.