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WHO warns of health and economic cost of poor sanitation
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that inadequate sanitation has impacted the health and economies of countries in South and East Asia, stressing improved sanitation as the most effective way to reduce the losses
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T
he World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that inadequate sanitation has impacted the health and economies of countries in South and East Asia, stressing improved sanitation as the most effective way to reduce the losses.
'Every dollar spent on sanitation yields about US$9 in savings on treatment, healthcare costs and gains from more productive working days,' WHO Southeast Asia (SEARO) regional director Poonam Khetrapal Singh said on Tuesday.
She went on to say that the current Ebola crisis in West Africa demonstrated the enormous importance of adequate sanitation, water and hygiene services in preventing disease outbreaks and infection control.
'We must learn from this tragic crisis,' said Khetrapal Singh.
In India, inadequate sanitation amounted to a loss equivalent to about 6.4 percent of India's gross domestic product (GDP), data from a major study in 2006 estimates. These losses and the economic impact disproportionately affect the poor.
'Good sanitation is proven to prevent water sources being contaminated, protect the environment, prevent infectious diseases and help reduce malnutrition, stunting in children and mental stress,' said Khetrapal Singh.
A recent WHO study revealed that inadequate sanitation had caused 123,300 diarrhea deaths in 2012 in WHO SEARO countries, while inadequate hand-washing practices were responsible for 131,500 deaths.
WHO SEARO countries put in immense efforts to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) sanitation targets and by 2012, the proportion of the region's population with access to improved sanitation had risen to 45 percent from 25 percent in 1990. However, the region is likely to miss its MDG target on sanitation.
'The rich have much greater access in all areas, while 70 percent of people without improved sanitation and 90 percent of people practicing open defecation live in rural areas,' said Khetrapal Singh, adding that communities with higher levels of education had better access to sanitation than illiterate ones.
The WHO's global assessment of sanitation and drinking water in 2013 highlights the lack of policies to improve water, sanitation and hygiene in healthcare facilities.
In 2013, the UN officially recognized Nov.19 as World Toilet Day to draw attention to the issue of sanitation and make it a global development priority.
'I urge all countries, stakeholders and development partners to work together and make sanitation for all a reality,' said Khetrapal Singh. (ebf)(+++)
