Global Status of National Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage Policies Maggie Montgomery Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Health Unit, WHO Southern Africa Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage Workshop Maputo, Mozambique 20 June 2012
Overview Basis for national household water treatment and safe storage (HWTS) policies Results of Global Survey Key Challenges and Opportunities Conclusion
Basis for Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage National Policies "Immediate" solution to billions without reliable, safe-drinking water Scale-up has been limited Supportive national policies critical to reaching millions/billions International targets address policy needs: "By 2015, 30 countries have established policies on household water treatment and safe storage"- Network Strategy MoH Kenya, John Kariuki "by 2018, 50 more countries will have reached target"-2012 World Water Forum
Survey on HWTS National Policies and Regulation Sent to all WHO Regions and country offices 15 questions regarding policies, institutions, implementation and regulation 70 responses (46 unique) Majority of responses from African Region (46%); Eastern Mediterranean (22%) Majority completed by Ministry of Health or Ministry of Water IPA, Lilian Lehmann
Countries completing survey compared to access to improved drinking-water Low Access (<50%) Higher Access (>75%)
Inclusion of HWTS in National Policies Two-thirds of countries address HWTS in national policies/strategies; nearly half include HWTS in multiple sector strategies. Number of countries 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 In majority of countries MoH is lead Drinking water quality policies; national acts and regulations; country plans for scaling-up Water Health Emergency Sanitation Other Sector policies that address HWTS Poverty eradication strategies; regulation in public buildings
National HWTS Targets Nearly half (43%) of countries have targets involving HWTS. Health: Reduce waterborne diarrhoeal deaths (Sudan, Togo) Safe drinking-water: By 2020 every household should have efficiently treated water supplied by either government or individual and safe storage (Oman); By 2015 90% of population who do not yet have access to potable water will consistently and correct practice an effective HWTS method (Ghana) HWTS targets: By 2017, 27% of vulnerable population will have safe drinking-water by 2027 50% of this population will have access (Nepal); By 2015 77% of households will safely treat and store drinkingwater (Ethiopia)
Government support of HWTS Majority of governments support HWTS policy implementation. 59% have Taskforces/Working Groups 50% advocate for integration in health programmes 50% have HWTS Guidelines 22% have reduced or no tariffs (DRC, Ghana, Kenya, Jordan, Lao, Pakistan, Philippines, Tunisia, Togo, Uganda) 15% support local production (Congo, Cote d'ivoire, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, Tunisia Uganda, Uruguay, Zimbabwe) National teams working on HWTS action plans at East Africa Workshop, 2011 UNC/R Rowe
Facilitating National Policy Development Regional workshops and development of action plans East Africa 2011 Southern Africa 2012 2013 (proposed): West Africa, SE Asia 2012 World Water Forum Target and Session Focus on inclusion of HWTS in existing national health and/or water strategies/plans Drinking-water quality Nutrition Child and maternal health HIV/AIDS and TB Emergencies
Evaluation and Regulation of HWT Majority of countries (74%) certify HWTS (or recognize int'l certification) Requirements for HWT certification vary and often multi-pronged: 50% require laboratory testing, 35% field testing, 30% third-party evaluations Indicator bacteria (i.e. E. Coli) most commonly assessed Many countries in process of updating standards (Cambodia, DRC, Ethiopia, Tanzania) Update from Southern Africa Malawi: MoH has lead in regulation, national certification, test in lab & field Mozambique: MoH has lead in regulation, national certifcation, tests only in lab
Challenges in Policy Implementation Number of Countries 25 20 15 10 5 0 Coordination Regulation M&E Awareness Challenges WHO/UNICEF Toolkit on Monitoring and Evaluating HWTS WHO recommendations on evaluating Household Water Treatment Derivation of targets: Based on Guidelines for Drinking water Quality risk based approach Tiered approach: Highly protective > protective >interim
Acknowledgements and links Waltaji Terfa (WHO, Ethiopia) Julia Naman (WHO, HQ) HWTS Survey on National Policies http://www.who.int/household_water/advocacy/survey/en/index.h tml Information Sheet for Policy-Makers on HWT Evaluation and Regulation http://www.who.int/household_water/resources/evaluatinghwt_f orgovt.pdf
Afya ni bora kuliko mali. Health is better than wealth. (Swahili Proverb) Thank you. Questions?