Most health facilities lack basic sanitation, says UN report
United Nations agencies have revealed that only 40 percent of healthcare facilities globally meet basic sanitation standards. The report highlights major gaps in access to usable toilets, especially for people with limited mobility. It also points out that sanitation levels vary widely across regions, with poorer countries facing the greatest challenges. The findings underscore the urgent need for improved sanitation in healthcare settings worldwide.
Highlights
- Only 40 percent of healthcare facilities worldwide have toilets that meet basic needs for patients and staff, according to a report by the World Health Organisation and UNICEF.
- The report found that 11 percent of health facilities globally have no sanitation services at all, affecting 936 million people.
- Sanitation levels are lowest in sub-Saharan Africa, where just 23 percent of facilities provide basic services, compared to 55 percent in central and southern Asia.
- The report also assessed access to water, hygiene, environmental cleaning, and waste management, finding that only 59 percent of facilities met basic environmental cleaning standards.
- In the world’s least-developed nations, just 24 percent of facilities met the required environmental cleaning standard.
