Looking back, looking ahead
Five decades of challenges and achievements in environmental sanitation and health
Overview
HO has always maintained that sanitation is literally the foundation on which a sound public health structure must be built. Over the last 50 years WHO has generated, evaluated and shared new knowledge on safe disposal of excreta, sewage and community waste and been at the forefront of exploring the linkages between environmental pollution and change, and people’s health and livelihoods.
There is no doubt that people, especially poor people living in countries where basic infrastructure is lacking, are seriously affected by environmental degradation. In addition, the ongoing and deteriorating situation of sewerage causing environmental pollution needs urgent and serious attention.
This publication documents the history and experiences of WHO’s involvement in environmental sanitation.