WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene)

07 Jul 2023 WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene)

This article covers “Daily Current Affairs” and the topic details “WASH”. The topic “WASH” has relevance in the Public Health section of the UPSC CSE exam.

For Prelims:

What is WASH?

For Mains:

GS 2 : Public Health

Unsafe WASH Practices?

Impacts of Unsafe WASH Practices?

Importance of Safe WASH?

WHO WASH Strategy?

Link to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

Why in the news:

According to a new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) titled “Burden of Disease Attributable to Unsafe Drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene: 2019 Update,” unsafe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices have led to severe consequences, resulting in a significant loss of lives and widespread disease burden.

What is WASH:

Definition:

• WASH is an acronym that represents the interrelated areas of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene.
• It encompasses initiatives and practices aimed at improving access to clean water, proper sanitation facilities, and promoting good hygiene behaviors.

Components of WASH:

• Water: Focuses on ensuring access to safe and clean drinking water for all individuals and communities.
• Sanitation: Involves providing proper sanitation facilities and systems for the safe disposal of human waste.
• Hygiene: Promotes good hygiene practices such as handwashing, proper food handling, and awareness about basic hygiene.

Goals and Objectives:

• Improve health outcomes by reducing waterborne diseases and improving sanitation practices.
• Enhance access to clean water and proper sanitation facilities, especially in marginalized and underserved communities.
• Promote hygiene behaviors to prevent the spread of diseases and improve overall well-being.

Unsafe WASH Practices:

• Drinking Contaminated Water:Using polluted rivers or stagnant ponds as drinking water sources.
• Inadequate Sanitation:Absence or poor maintenance of toilets, latrines, or sewage systems leading to improper waste disposal.
• Poor Hygiene Practices:Insufficient handwashing with soap, improper food handling, and lack of hygiene awareness.
• Open Defecation:Defecating in the open without proper toilet or latrine facilities, causing environmental and water contamination.
• Improper Waste Disposal:Inadequate disposal of solid waste and mishandling of hazardous waste, leading to pollution and disease transmission.

Impacts of Unsafe WASH Practices:

Mortality Toll:

• Unsafe WASH practices caused 395,000 deaths among children under five in 2019.
• Diarrhoea accounted for 273,000 deaths, while acute respiratory infections caused 112,000 deaths.
• Inadequate access to WASH services resulted in at least 1.4 million deaths globally.

Widespread Disease Impact:

• Diarrhoeal diseases caused over a million deaths and 55 million Disability-adjusted life years (DALY).
• Soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH) affect an estimated 1.5 billion people worldwide due to poor sanitation practices.
• Inadequate WASH contributes to 10% of the disease burden associated with malnutrition.

Global Disparities in WASH Access:

• 771 million people lack access to safe water globally.
• Approximately 1.7 billion people do not have access to proper sanitation facilities.
• Consequences for Low and High-Income Countries:
• Poor hand hygiene practices led to around 384,000 diarrhoea-related deaths in Africa and South-East Asia.
• Even high-income countries like the United States experienced risks, with thousands of deaths from diarrhoeal diseases and acute respiratory infections.

Importance of Safe WASH:

• Health and Well-being: Safe WASH practices reduce the risk of illness, malnutrition, and mortality.
• Gender Equality: Gender-responsive WASH services empower women and girls, promoting equality and dignity.
• Environmental Sustainability:Sustainable WASH practices protect water resources, conserve the environment, and mitigate climate change impacts.

WHO WASH Strategy:

• Developed in response to Member State Resolution (WHA 64.4) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• Part of WHO’s 13th General Programme of Work 2019–2023, focusing on health, emergency preparedness, and Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
• Emphasizes the progressive realization of the human rights to safe drinking-water and 

Link to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being – WASH is essential for preventing the spread of diseases and promoting good health.
• Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation – Focuses on ensuring access to clean drinking water and adequate sanitation facilities.
• Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – WASH is crucial for responsible use and management of water resources.
• Goal 13: Climate Action – WASH plays a role in adapting to climate change impacts on water availability and quality.

Source:https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/water/unsafe-wash-behind-395-000-deaths-of-children-under-5-in-2019-who-report-90345

Q.1 Which of the following is a major impact of unsafe WASH practices?

(a) Increased agricultural productivity

(b) Improved access to education

(c) Higher mortality rates

(d) Enhanced economic growth

ANSWER: C

Q.2 Which of the following statements about unsafe WASH practices are true? 

1. Unsafe WASH practices can result in the contamination of water sources
2. Inadequate access to WASH services has no significant impact on global mortality rates.
3. Open defecation is an example of an unsafe WASH practice.

Select all that apply:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

ANSWER: C

Q.3 Discuss the impacts of unsafe WASH practices on public health and the environment. How can these impacts be mitigated through effective WASH interventions?

rishabh