Effective Sanitation and hygiene are essential to children’s health
Providing a community with access to clean water is the easiest way to prevent a whole host of illness and diseases.
Girls are particularly impacted by inadequate access to water and basic sanitation. They’re often the ones who are responsible for collecting clean water, and if they’re menstruating, poor facilities mean they are exposed to health complications and violence.
In communities without private and safe bathroom facilities, open defecation is often commonplace, which leads to infected water supplies and disease. Adding to this, inadequate hygiene practice like not washing hands with soap can lead to life-threatening illness.
How Plan International are helping
Plan International work to provide clean water, the materials to build toilets and sanitation facilities. But we also work with communities to make sure they are used correctly and maintained, because providing toilets doesn’t guarantee people will use them.
By training community leaders, showing people how to build their own toilets, and teaching children and their families about good hygiene practices like handwashing with soap, we’re creating change that lasts.
Our research
Our program work is informed by evidence, and we’re always learning. Read our recent WASH research reports.
Our impact in 2022 financial year
Water and sanitation affect a girl’s health, safety and education
We know that everyone is affected by inadequate access to clean water and safe sanitation. But young women and girls are particularly at risk.
In many countries, girls are responsible for spending large parts of the day finding and fetching water for their families, which keeps them out of school and puts them in danger of violence if they are out alone. The lack of private and decent sanitation facilities to manage their periods at school can also contribute to girls dropping out and permanently ending their education.
COVID-19 and other crises make sanitation and hygiene more important than ever
Practising good hygiene is the easiest way to provide the spread of illness and infection. In the face of COVID-19, access to water, soap and hygiene products has never been so important.
This is also true of extreme weather events such as floods or cyclones, which can cause water contamination and increase the spread of water-borne diseases. By making sure all communities are equipped with improved water and sanitation systems, and providing additional support during crises, we can keep more children safe.
Help support our work around the world
Latest news
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Our programs in Brazil are supporting women and girls as they inspire their communities, by providing the education and skills they need to access clean, safe water. Together, we will Beat the Clock. -
In the wake of the devastating earthquakes that shook northern Syria six months ago, Plan International supporters sprang into action. Together with generous contributions from our partners, like the Emergency Action Alliance, you’ve helped us to… -
Periods don’t stop when times are tough, or in an emergency. But all too often in crisis situations, girls, women and people who menstruate struggle to manage their periods with dignity, as access to basic supplies and essential health services… -
March 22 marks World Water Day, with the theme in 2023 being Accelerating Change. The world is currently well behind targets to meet the Sustainable Development Goal of water and sanitation for all by 2030, with many people around the world still…
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Sanmya’s Plan
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Syria earthquake: 6 months on
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A Tough Period
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Improving access to water in Solomon Islands’ schools
Give a Gift of Hope
Emergency hygiene kit
Emergency hygiene kit
Materials to build a toilet
Materials to build a toilet
