Access to basic sanitation still lagging for millions in East and Southern Africa

Despite progress towards ensuring basic sanitation services for all, access still eludes many.
According to recent estimates, over half of the global population – or 4.2 billion people across the world – lack safe sanitation, 701 million use unimproved facilities, and 673 million people practice open defecation.
Without safe toilets and waste management systems, diseases such as cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, polio and diarrhea can spread easily. UNICEF is committed to achieving equitable access to adequate sanitation and hygiene for all and to end open defecation by 2030.
As part of its pledge to support 60 million people to gain access to at least basic sanitation services by 2021, UNICEF is gathering development partners, private sector, financial institutions, and government representatives on 25-26 June in Nairobi (Kenya) to accelerate market-based solutions for making toilets and sanitation services more affordable and accessible for households in the East and Southern Africa region.