Raising clean hands. Advancing learning, health and participation through WASH in Schools

Ensure every child goes to a school with WASH – water, sanitation and hygiene education. Despite widespread knowledge of the relationship between poor WASH quality and the burden of disease on children, many countries have inadequately addressed water and sanitation facilities in their schools. Policymakers as well as school administrators have been unable to devote adequate attention to WASH in Schools programmes, and as a result, schools either do not have WASH facilities or they are in poor condition due to lack of maintenance.

This Call to Action for WASH in Schools puts forward a six-point plan towards providing each and every schoolchild with access to quality water, child-friendly sanitation and hygiene facilities, and hygiene education for lifelong health.