Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH)

Water, sanitation and hygiene are essential the good health and holistic wellbeing of children, their families, and communities.

Clean and safe water supplies close to homes reduce the incidence of water-borne diseases and reduce the time needed to collect water and make more water available for washing and cleaning. Less time spent collecting water means more time in the classroom or at play for children, and parents – particularly mothers – have more time to generate income for their households.

Clean are safe toilets more likely to be used by children, and combined with soap and water handwash facilities, help to keep the family freer from disease. Extending WASH to schools embeds sanitation and hygiene behaviors in young children. Health care centers with quality WASH are safer to work in and visit, leading to higher quality care and better health outcomes for the community.