This means that 1.8 billion people use facilities that lack basic water services and 800 million use facilities with no toilets.
Across the world’s 47 least-developed countries, the problem is even greater: half of health care facilities lack basic water services. Furthermore, the extent of the problem remains hidden because major gaps in data persist, especially on environmental cleaning.
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is exposing key vulnerabilities in health systems, such as inadequate infection prevention and control. WASH services in health care facilities, so often taken for granted, are needed more than ever to protect vulnerable health workers and patients.