Only 40% of world’s health facilities meet basic sanitation standards, says UN

The United Nations has reported that only 40% of healthcare facilities worldwide meet basic sanitation standards, with 11% having no sanitation services at all. According to a recent report from the World Health Organization and Unicef, an estimated 85% of facilities have basic water services, while 72% provide basic hygiene services.

However, only 59% of facilities meet basic environmental cleaning standards, which is crucial for infection prevention and control. The report, which analyzed data from 70 countries, found significant disparities in sanitation levels across regions, with only 23% of facilities in sub-Saharan Africa offering basic services, compared to 55% in central and southern Asia.

In poorer countries, the situation is particularly dire, with only 24% of healthcare facilities in least-developed nations meeting even the most basic environmental cleaning requirements.