Nearly a billion without clean water in healthcare

 

TT

 

Published 09.00

 

On August 23, World Water Week will start in Stockholm, when decision-makers and experts will meet to discuss global water issues. Archive photo. Photo: Claudio Bresciani/TT

Despite some progress, almost a billion people still lack clean water when seeking care. Ahead of World Water Week in Stockholm, WHO and UNICEF are sounding the alarm about global shortages in healthcare facilities.

While access to clean water in global healthcare has increased from 76 to 85 percent in ten years, only 40 percent meet all basic sanitation requirements.

Around 1.5 billion people are treated without good hygiene, which drives the spread of infection and antibiotic resistance.

The differences in water access are enormous; in Madagascar, 70 percent of healthcare facilities lack clean water.

At the same time, India is showing that it is possible to reverse the trend. After a national focus on water, approved healthcare facilities have increased from 100 to over 51,000 in ten years.