Only 40% of world’s health facilities meet basic sanitation standards: UN
Summary
- A UN report finds that just 40% of health facilities globally comply with basic sanitation standards.
- More than one in ten health facilities lack any sanitation service, affecting 936 million people.
- Inadequate sanitation in health centres hampers infection control and undermines quality of care.
- The findings underscore the need for increased investment and policy action to improve health infrastructure worldwide.
Key Facts
- · Only 40% of global health facilities meet basic sanitation criteria.
- · Over 10% of health facilities have no sanitation service at all.
- · 936 million people are served by facilities without basic sanitation.
- · The data comes from a United Nations (UN) report on health infrastructure.
- · Basic sanitation includes access to clean water, functional toilets, and hand‑washing facilities.
- · Poor sanitation increases risk of healthcare‑associated infections.
- · The report calls for accelerated funding and implementation of sanitation standards.
Why it matters
Adequate sanitation in health facilities is crucial for preventing infections, achieving Sustainable Development Goals (especially SDG 3 on health and SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation), and ensuring safe delivery of health services globally.
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