World Health Organisation (WHO)
The World Health Organization (WHO) is the UN specialized agency on health. WHO monitors global progress on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) through estimates of global burden of WASH- related disease, monitoring of progress under the SDGs on WASH in households, schools and health facilities, wastewater treatment and the enabling environment for WASH service delivery.
WHO supports progress on WASH though development of rigorous evidence-based global guidelines on drinking-water quality, sanitation and health, safe use of wastewater in agriculture and aquiculture, and safe recreational water environments and supports capacity development for guideline implementation at country level through 6 regional offices and 147 country offices. WHO also works with the health sector to ensure that WASH is coordinated and incorporated in health programme delivery wherever WASH plays a role in primary prevention or health service delivery with a focus on; WASH in health facilities, emergencies and cholera control, neglected tropical diseases, antimicrobial resistance and health impacts of climate change. Further details is available in the WHO Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Strategy 2018-25.
Monitor safe treatment of wastewater
WHO monitors safe treatment of wastewater through the Integrated Monitoring Initiative and the enabling environment for improvements in wastewater treatment and safe use through the UN-Water global analysis and assessment of sanitation and drinking-water (GLAAS). WHO also supports global progress towards improvements in treatment and safe use through the WHO Guidelines on Safe Use of Wastewater in Agriculture and Aquaculture and Guidelines on Safe Recreational Water Environments and promotion and capacity building on sanitation safety planning business models for safe resource recovery and reuse.
WHO also interfaces with health programmes where wastewater and ambient water quality plays a key role on primary prevention especially antimicrobial resistance and food safety.
The UN Permanent Representatives of Hungary and the Philippines, in cooperation with WHO, have launched the ‘UN Group of Friends in Support of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Health Care Facilities’. The launch event in December was joined by UN Missions from across the globe, and included statemen … Read more
The Compendium is a comprehensive collection of available World Health Organization (WHO) and other UN guidance for improving health by creating healthier environments. It covers a broad range of areas such as air pollution, water, sanitation and hygiene, climate change, chemicals, radiation, or foo … Read more
To mark World Toilet Day 2021, a special event is taking place at the United Nations headquarters in New York on 19 November. The President of the UN General Assembly Abdulla Shahid and UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed will open proceedings, highlighting the importance of tackling the glob … Read more
At the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, a multimedia Water Pavilion is hosted between 1 – 12 November 2021. The Water Pavilion programme offers a wide-ranging and inclusive series of events demonstrating the numerous ways that water is enabling transformative climate action – at all … Read more
All households in the world’s 46 least developed countries could have handwashing facilities by 2030 if the world invested less than US$1 per person per year, in hand hygiene, according to the 2021 State of the World’s Hand Hygiene report launched on – Global Handwashing Day – by WHO and UNICEF. Thi … Read more
