Sanitation, Hygiene and Water for All

  • Invest in health
    Invest in health

    Access to sanitation reduces childhood diarrhoeal disease deaths by 30%.

              
  • GDP for GDP: the new advocacy campaign from WSSCC
    GDP for GDP: the new advocacy campaign from WSSCC

    WSSCC proudly announces GDP for GDP -- Good Dignity Practices for Gross Domestic Product, the latest edition of its flagship Global WASH Campaign. Visit the WASH Advocacy page to learn more!

              
  • Dignity includes privacy and safety
    Dignity includes privacy and safety

    In some countries, women risk sexual assault when they walk many kilometres to defecate in privacy or fetch water.  Toilets and taps are vital but rape can be fatal. 

              
  • Sanitation is vital for health
    Sanitation is vital for health

    Improved sanitation reduces diarrhoea, worms and other diseases which today claim 1.5 million child lives every year, or one every 20 seconds. Action for sanitation saves lives. 

              
  • Sanitation is good for the environment
    Sanitation is good for the environment

    If collected, the world's openly defecated excrement would fill Wembley Stadium -- every day. Uncollected, it fouls the environment and exposes millions of people to disease and squalor.

              
  • Sanitation: bang for the buck
    Sanitation: bang for the buck

    Improved sanitation spurs economic growth and poverty reduction. A dollar invested in sanitation returns $9 in economic benefits.  Imagine it: billions of wealthier, healthier people. 

              
  • Sanitation fosters social development
    Sanitation fosters social development

    Sanitation is dignity, privacy and safety, especially for women and girls. It improves convenience and social status. In schools, it promotes attendance by children, especially girls in puberty. 

              
  • Yes is the answer
    Yes is the answer

    2.6 billion people lack toilets today but don't have to tomorrow. Technologies, approaches and skilled people are ready. Hard work, plain talk, strong leadership and demand creation are remedies.

              
  • Your water: natural, carbonated or fouled?
    Your water: natural, carbonated or fouled?

    For 884 million people, drinking water is dirty or hard to access. One gram of faeces can contain 10 million viruses and one million bacteria. Thirsty? 

              

Topics

In focus

In focus

From 9-14 October 2011, the Global Forum on Sanitation and Hygiene in Mumbai, India, served as a leading platform to discuss and advance issues of importance to billions of people. Read more.



Resources

Resources

Some 102,970 people have access to and are using improved toilets as a result of the Global Sanitation Fund. Read the latest bi-annual progress report.

Real life stories

Real life stories

Keo Samon from southeast Cambodia speaks about her inspiration to build a simple toilet.

Advocate for WASH

Advocate for WASH

Health - Investing in sanitation and hygiene pays huge dividends in the health sector.  WSSCC is stepping up in advocacy efforts. Make a difference and join the GDP for GDP campaign!

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