what is poor sanitation

Poor sanitation refers to the lack of access to clean drinking water and unsafe disposal of human waste, which can have severe consequences for human well-being, social and economic development. It is linked to the transmission of diarrheal diseases such as cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and polio, as well as contributing to the spread of antimicrobial resistance and malnutrition. Poor sanitation is a major risk factor for death globally, with over 1.5 billion people still lacking basic sanitation services, and it is estimated to cause hundreds of thousands of diarrheal deaths every year. Additionally, it can lead to lost opportunities for education and work, anxiety, risk of sexual assault, and exacerbate stunting. Vulnerable populations, such as those living in rural, vulnerable, and war-torn areas, are particularly affected by poor sanitation. Lack of access to safely managed sanitation facilities is a significant global issue, with more than half the global population still living without safely managed sanitation, and over 670 million people practicing open defecation. The human right to sanitation entitles everyone to have physical and affordable access to safe, hygienic, and culturally acceptable sanitation, without discrimination, and it is imperative for the health and well-being of both individuals and communities as a whole.