Hygiene, Sanitation, and Water: What Needs to Be Done?

From:: Department for International Development
Published: 1 January 2010

Document Type:: Journal Article
Theme:: Water and Sanitation
Authors:: Cairncross, S., Cumming, O., Bartram, J., Brocklehurst, C.

Abstract

As the last article in a series on water and sanitation, this paper considers what needs to be done to make significant progress towards ensuring universal access to hygiene, sanitation, and water. We first discuss the differences between these three subsectors and the possible reasons for poor rates of progress towards achieving universal access in recent years. Then, we consider the actors whose engagement is essential for the sector, including the poor households themselves who are significant investors, local and central government, donors, and international agencies. Finally, we discuss the potentially important role of the health sector in improving hygiene, sanitation, and water worldwide and propose a detailed Agenda for Action.

Citation

Cairncross, S.; Bartram, J.; Cumming, O.; Brocklehurst, C. Hygiene, Sanitation, and Water: What Needs to Be Done? PLoS Medicine (2010) 7 (11) e1000365. [DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1000365]