Water is the world’s lifeblood, essential to social development, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. Moreover, it is a resource that links with nearly every Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).
However, the world is on a dangerous path as unsustainable water use, pollution, and unchecked global warming drain humanity’s lifeblood. The new UN World Water Development Report 2023, which was launched on Tuesday on the eve of the first major UN conference on water in over 45 years, gives a clear picture that the gap needs to be filled to meet UN goals to ensure all people have access to clean water and sanitation by 2030.
About 26 percent of the world’s population lacks clean drinking water, while 46 percent lack access to basic sanitation.
The United Nations cited WHO and UNICEF figures showing that around 2 billion people do not have access to safely managed drinking water in their homes. In contrast, over 4 billion do not have access to basic sanitation.
The report says that water scarcity and untreated waste seriously threaten human health. It is also said that the overuse of water for agricultural purposes is a significant driver of the problem.
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Providing safe drinking water and sanitation is a complex process that requires significant investment in infrastructure, capacity building, and service delivery. Therefore, efforts in water-related sectors must be sufficiently integrated to deliver sustainable services.
WHO and UNICEF’s Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene is crucial for monitoring progress toward SDG targets on universal access to water, sanitation, and hygiene. It uses household surveys to assess the level of access to water and sanitation facilities and the quality of service.
It also supports country- and region-level decision-making on the design, operation, and maintenance of water, sanitation, and hygiene services to achieve higher rates of progress. The JMP also provides information to the international community and governments. It helps monitor progress toward the UN goals to ensure everyone can access safe water and sanitation by 2030.
About a third of the world’s population cannot wash their hands with soap and water, a condition that can be deadly if not treated. This results from poor hand hygiene practices and inadequate sanitation facilities in many parts of the world.
Sanitation is vital for reducing the risk of illness and disease and improving health outcomes in the developing world. It can also improve economic growth and reduce poverty. It is a critical part of any country’s response to the epidemic and can be implemented through various strategies.
Investing in water and sanitation services is a long-term commitment that requires sustained support. This is especially true in countries with limited financial resources. Therefore, water and sanitation programs must focus on creating sustainable financing systems and enhancing local capacity to provide efficient and cost-effective services to be effective. They also must be integrated into national policies and supported by national budgets and other public expenditures.
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