Sanitation and Hygiene
WASH is the acronym for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. Due to their interdependent nature, these three core issues are grouped together to represent a growing sector. While each a separate field of work, each is dependent on the presence of the other. For example, without toilets, water sources become contaminated; without clean water, basic hygiene practices are not possible.1 Access to water and sanitation is one of the major challenges for the 21st century. World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that still "2.5 billion people- more than one third of the global population – live without basic sanitation facilities".
What do I need to know about Sanitation?
‘Sanitation’ alone is taken to mean the safe management of human excreta. It therefore includes both the ‘hardware’ (e.g. latrines and sewers) and the ‘software’ (regulation, hygiene promotion) needed to reduce faecal-oral disease transmission.
Benefits of improved sanitation extend well beyond reducing the risk of diarrhoea. These include: 1. reducing the spread of intestinal worms, schistosomiasis and trachoma, which are neglected tropical diseases that cause suffering for millions; 2. reducing the severity and impact of malnutrition;
Key facts
(i) In 2020, 54% of the global population (4.2 billion people) used a safely managed sanitation service.
(ii) Over 1.7 billion people still do not have basic sanitation services, such as private toilets or latrines.
(iii) Of these, 494 million still defecate in the open, for example in street gutters, behind bushes or into open bodies of water.
(iv) In 2020, 45% of the household wastewater generated globally was discharged without safe treatment.
(v) At least 10% of the world’s population is thought to consume food irrigated by wastewater.
(vi) Poor sanitation reduces human well-being, social and economic development due to impacts such as anxiety, risk of sexual assault, and lost opportunities for education and work.
(vii) Poor sanitation is linked to transmission of diarrhoea diseases such as cholera and dysentery, as well as typhoid, intestinal worm infections and polio. It exacerbates stunting and contributes to the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
Benefits of improving sanitation
Benefits of improved sanitation extend well beyond reducing the risk of diarrhoea. These include:
(i) reducing the spread of intestinal worms, schistosomiasis and trachoma, which are neglected tropical diseases that cause suffering for millions;
(ii) reducing the severity and impact of malnutrition;
(iii) promoting dignity and boosting safety, particularly among women and girls;
(iv) promoting school attendance: girls’ school attendance is particularly boosted by the provision of separate sanitary facilities;
(v) reducing the spread of antimicrobial resistance;
(vi) potential recovery of water, renewable energy and nutrients from faecal waste; and
(vii) potential to mitigate water scarcity through safe use of wastewater for irrigation especially in areas most affected by climate change.
Sanitation in schools
Is an important factor that affects student health and education1. Access to functional and private school toilets can positively impact health and learning outcomes, particularly for girls2. Lack of access to adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities can lower attendance and educational achievement in schools3. A successful school provides a clean and safe environment for its students4. Schools can promote hygiene education by training teachers and faculty on safe sanitation practices5.
The Importance of School Hygiene and Sanitation
A successful school is one that provides a clean and safe environment for its students. School hygiene reflects in several ways; for example, waste management, cleaning services, and the overall health of students and staff.
While this may be overlooked at times, school hygiene is one of the primary necessities of any educational facility. Below, we’re going to cover this and more.
Improved Attendance
School hygiene is a determinant of overall school attendance. This is true for both students and staff members, who attend school less frequently because of illness or a general distaste for attending a school that isn’t cleaned properly or that isn’t hygienic.
A building that isn’t hygienic can collect a significant amount of bacteria over time. Considering the amount of people who go in and out of schools, this can be especially dangerous and can lead to sickness and illness for everyone involved.
Health-related policies should include the overall hygiene of a school. The impact of school cleanliness on the health of those exposed to bacteria within schools is big. To promote hygiene within schools, it may be necessary to create things like health clubs and hosting information sessions about hygiene in general.
Motivation to Learn
When students and staff are exposed to an environment that is clean and sanitary, they will be more motivated to learn. This is because the overall aesthetic of any classroom, building, or room, can affect overall morale and can discourage students from wanting to put effort into a school that isn’t willing to put effort into them.
Not only this but having a clean school will improve the motivation of parents and other visitors. When parents visit a school to enroll their children, the natural look of the school will have a large impact on their willingness to enroll.
