For every 1 US dollar invested, 4.30 dollars are generated in economic returns through increased productivity. And this investment goes directly to the benefit of children. This is just one amazing fact of the WASH program – the water, sanitation and hygiene work we support in India through UNICEF Finland.
The UNICEF WASH program aims to guarantee equitable access and use of sustainable, safe, and affordable water, sanitation, and hygiene services. In year 2021 alone, 10 million more people gained access to basic sanitation, 28 million families gained access to household tap water, 132 million people were reached through the media and 1.14 million directly with the initiatives that promoted the importance of handwashing with soap.
Despite the progress, efforts are still needed: 65% of rural households lack access to safely managed drinking water, and 35% of rural households do not have access to basic sanitation facilities in their homes. 32% of government-run daycare centers do not have adequate toilet facilities and 23% of schools have unusable toilets. We must continue the good work to make the WASH services accessible to all and ensure that no one is left behind.
