Photo: On 6 September 2022, Naseema Baloch (22) going back to her home after receiving WASH kits during the distribution in Village achropat is located on far edges of UC Bela, Lasbela district, Baluchistan province, Pakistan. UNICEF has start providing clean drinking water first time after the flash floods that hit the area on 25 July 2022. © UNICEF/UN0701798/Zaidi
Around the world, women often take on the important task of fetching water for their families, and girls are even more likely than boys to do this job. A recent report by UNICEF and World Health Organization (WHO), released in July, sheds light on this issue. The report also reveals that women and girls often feel unsafe when using toilets outside of their homes and are affected the most by poor hygiene.
Cecilia Sharp, the Director of WASH and CEED at UNICEF, stressed that every time a girl has to collect water, it takes time away from her learning, play, and safety. Unsafe water, toilets, and lack of handwashing facilities at home can hold girls back, affect their well-being, and keep them trapped in poverty. To achieve universal access to water and sanitation and promote gender equality, it’s crucial to consider the needs of girls in designing WASH programs.
The report highlights some concerning facts. Globally, 1.8 billion people live in homes without their own water supply. Women and girls aged 15 and older are responsible for water collection in seven out of ten such households, compared to only three out of ten households for men and boys. Girls under 15 (7 percent) are also more likely than boys under 15 (4 percent) to fetch water. Often, women and girls have to travel long distances to collect water, which takes time away from education, work, and leisure and puts them at risk of injury and other dangers.
The report also shows that over half a billion people still share sanitation facilities with other households, which can compromise the privacy, dignity, and safety of women and girls. For instance, women and girls using shared toilets are more likely to feel unsafe when walking alone at night and face risks like sexual harassment.
Inadequate WASH services also increase health risks for women and girls and can make it challenging to manage their periods privately and safely. In the poorest households and among those with disabilities, women and adolescent girls are most likely to lack a private place to wash and change.
Dr. Maria Neira, WHO Director of Environment, Climate Change, and Health Department, highlighted that the latest data reveals a grim reality: 1.4 million lives are lost each year due to insufficient water, sanitation, and hygiene. Women and girls not only face health issues like diarrhea and respiratory infections due to poor WASH but also are at risk of harassment, violence, and injury when they have to go outside their homes to fetch water or use the toilet.
The report also emphasizes that the lack of access to proper hygiene disproportionately affects women and girls. In many countries, they bear the primary responsibility for domestic chores, like cleaning, cooking, and caring for the sick. This exposes them to health risks when they don’t have the opportunity to wash their hands properly. Moreover, spending extra time on these chores can limit girls’ chances of completing secondary school and getting jobs.
Currently, one in four people globally still lacks safe drinking water at home, and two in five don’t have safe sanitation facilities. Additionally, one in four people cannot wash their hands with soap and water at home.
While there has been some progress in increasing access to clean water, sanitation, and basic hygiene services, achieving the Sustainable Development Goal targets for universal access by 2030 will require a significant increase in current rates of progress.
To address these challenges and promote gender equality, it’s essential to integrate gender considerations into WASH programs and policies. Collecting and analyzing data based on gender differences will help tailor interventions to meet the specific needs of women, girls, and other vulnerable groups.
Source: https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/women-and-girls-bear-brunt-water-and-sanitation-crisis-new-unicef-who-report