A Threat to Children's Health and Well-being
A number of factors, including poverty, a lack of clean water, and poor sanitation, puts millions of children worldwide at risk of developing poor hygiene habits. These terrible conditions endanger their health and well-being, hinder their growth, and eventually perpetuate a cycle of adverse circumstances.
A Global Health Crisis
Worldwide, 42% of primary schools and 40% of secondary schools lack access to essential resources like soap and water. This dire situation leaves children vulnerable to a host of preventable diseases, including diarrheal diseases, respiratory infections, skin infections, and eye infections, significantly impacting their health and well-being.
World Health Organization & UNICEF (2022). WASH in Schools: 2022 global baseline report. https://washdata.org/reports
Mortality
The lack of access to basic hygiene causes countless deaths of children worldwide. More than a thousand children under five pass away every day from illnesses caused by unsafe water and lack of sanitation and hygiene. Approximately 300,000 children die each year from diarrheal illnesses, which make up a significant percentage of these deaths.​
World Health Organization (WHO) & UNICEF (2023). Progress on household drinking water, sanitation and hygiene 2000-2022, https://www.unicef.org/turkiye/en/node/2296
