State of Africa’s Environment 2024

September 17, 2024

Unsafe sanitation practices and poor water quality have serious consequences, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. These problems lead to widespread water pollution and increase the risk of diseases. Many deaths in this region are linked to unsafe water and a lack of proper sanitation systems.

Impact of Unsafe Water and Sanitation

In sub-Saharan Africa, unsafe water causes major health risks. The death rate due to unsafe water is over 50 per 100,000 people, which is much higher compared to developed countries like Europe, where the rate is more than 1,000 times lower. Nearly 40% of deaths related to poor water, sanitation, and hygiene services (also called WASH services) occur in 10 African countries.

Effects on Children’s Health

Children suffer the most from poor sanitation. Waterborne diseases, which are illnesses caused by unsafe water, are common in the region. According to the World Bank, about 8% of child deaths in Africa are due to bad sanitation. In 2021, over 254,000 children under five died because of inadequate sanitation in sub-Saharan Africa. Lack of proper sanitation also leads to problems like stunted growth in children.

Economic Impact

Poor water and sanitation also hurt the economy. In sub-Saharan Africa, these issues are estimated to reduce the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) by up to 6%. Even though improving sanitation brings significant economic benefits, there is still not enough funding to solve the problem, despite several international promises to help.

Open Defecation Challenge

One of the biggest problems is open defecation—when people relieve themselves outside in the open because they don’t have access to toilets. In sub-Saharan Africa, about 196 million people still practice this. While the percentage of people practicing open defecation has dropped from 32% to 18%, the use of unsafe sanitation methods has increased in some rural areas, showing that progress in achieving safe sanitation is slow.

The issues of unsafe water and poor sanitation are deeply connected. In sub-Saharan Africa, these challenges are severe and require urgent attention. To improve public health and economic well-being, efforts must focus on providing safe water and ending open defecation practices.

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