A recent survey of 100,000 facilities found that more than half lack simple necessities, such as running water and soap – and they are supposed to be healthcare facilities. The result is more infections, prolonged hospital stays and sometimes death.
Against this backdrop, UN Secretary-General António Guterres launched the International Decade for Action on ‘Water for Sustainable Development’ (2018-2028) on March 22. In his remarks on the occasion, he said: “Without effective management of our water resources, we risk intensified disputes between communities and sectors and even increased tensions among nations.”