Water Sanitation and Health
Our vision and mission are the attainment by all peoples of the lowest possible burden of water and sanitation-related disease through primary prevention.
About us

Technical information

Highlights

A young woman waits for her container to fill up at a water tap
UNICEF/UN0549885/Dubourthoumi
© Credits
BOD Update 2019 publication cover
World Health Organization
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A group of African women washing their hands with soap and water
UNICEF/UNI226397/Naftalin
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Publications

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Burden of disease attributable to unsafe drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene: 2019 update
28 June 2023

Burden of disease attributable to unsafe drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene: 2019 update

The report summarizes the estimates of the burden of disease attributable to unsafe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene for the year 2019 for four...

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Water, sanitation, hygiene, waste and electricity services in health care facilities: progress on the fundamentals
13 June 2023

Water, sanitation, hygiene, waste and electricity services in health care facilities: progress on the...

WASH in health care facilities is essential for quality care – on this there is universal consensus. Many countries are taking action, but more collaborative,...

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Addressing climate change: supplement to the WHO water, sanitation and hygiene strategy 2018-2025
22 May 2023

Addressing climate change: supplement to the WHO water, sanitation and hygiene strategy 2018-2025

Addressing climate change: Supplement to the WHO water, sanitation and hygiene strategy 2018–2025 accentuates the need for countries to integrate...

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thumbnail to illustrate the publication
17 April 2023

Hand Hygiene Acceleration Framework Tool (HHAFT) - Excel tool

The HHAFT tracks the process that a government has undergone to develop and implement a plan of action for hand hygiene improvement and assesses the quality...

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News

6 July 2023
Joint News Release

Women and girls bear brunt of water and sanitation crisis – new UNICEF-WHO report
28 June 2023
Departmental news

Improving access to water, sanitation and hygiene can save 1.4 million lives per year, says new WHO report
13 June 2023
Departmental news

Frontline health facilities faltering without water, sanitation, hygiene and electricity – WHO, UNICEF new report
22 March 2023
Statement

Our lifetime opportunity to enable water, sanitation and hygiene for all
22 March 2023
Statement

The cholera emergency is avoidable

WASH annual report

WHO Global water, sanitation and hygiene: Annual report 2021
31 August 2022

WHO Global water, sanitation and hygiene: Annual report 2021
This report summarizes the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global work on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) during 2021. It describes how the...
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WHO water, sanitation and hygiene strategy 2018-2025
14 March 2019

WHO water, sanitation and hygiene strategy 2018-2025
This strategy sets out the direction and role of WHO within the context of the SDGs and WHO’s 13th Programme of Work.
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Calls for

Three WHO staff are walking on the beach in South Tarawa, Kiribati.
WHO / Yoshi Shimizu
WHO staff are on their way to visit fishermen in South Tarawa, Kiribati. People in Kiribati are experiencing extensive coastal erosion, not just of the beaches, but also of the land.
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WASH reflections series

A lake in Tadjikistan
Safo Kalandarov
A lake in Tadjikistan
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Solving today’s WASH and health challenges, which often appear intractable, will require honest reflection and constant learning. This series presents commentaries and insights from WASH experts, whether WHO staff, consultants or experts on key WASH themes.