Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

According to the World Health Organization and UNICEF, 2.2 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water and 4.2 billion people do not have safe sanitation in the world. In this time of a global pandemic, 3 billion people around the world lack basic handwashing facilities. Haiti's susceptibility to extreme weather conditions, earthquakes and hurricanes, as well as political and economic insecurity, have led to insufficient access to clean water and improved sanitation. According to the World Bank, less than 50% of Haitians living in rural areas have access to treated water, and only 24% have access to toilets.

​

A comprehensive water, sanitation and hygiene program ensures people have access to treated water for consumption as well as for bathing, washing clothes, and good hygiene. Healthcare facilities should exist in an environment that supports people recovering from illness. Healthcare professionals cannot control the spread of infection without treated water for washing hands and cleaning surfaces, nor without a toilet for the proper disposal of human waste. In addition, when health facilities exist without a good water, sanitation and hygiene program, both patients and health workers suffer.