More than 3.4 billion people worldwide lacked safely managed sanitation – Environmental Analyst 

Reverend Richard Mawutor Buamah, an Environmental Health Analyst, Wednesday stated that over 3.4 billion people worldwide lacked safely managed sanitation. 

He said the unacceptable reality exposed millions of preventable diseases, undermined dignity, especially for women and children and also harmed the environment. 

Rev. Buamah, who is also the Pastor in charge of the Klefe Pastoral District of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana said this at a ceremony in Ho to mark the 2025 World Toilet Day celebration. 

The day was on the theme: “Sanitation in a changing world: our collective responsibility.” 

Sanitation day was officially designated by the United Nations in 2013 as a reminder of the urgent need to address the global sanitation crisis. 

It also highlights the essential role of sanitation in health, dignity, safety and sustainable development. 

Rev. Buamah was of the view that despite efforts put in place by governments to address the issue “billions still lack access to proper sanitation, affecting their health, education and economic well-being.” 

He noted that climate shocks like storms, floods drought, heat waves coupled with the rapid growing population were putting strains on sanitation infrastructure, adding that toilets and waste systems that were not climate-resilient risk destruction 

Rev. Buamah advised that sanitation and waste management systems should be designed to withstand environmental shocks, conserve water, reduce emissions and protect water bodies from pollution. 

He intimated that beyond the health and environmental benefits, sanitation also carried a significant economic impact, adding “poor sanitation cost billions of dollars annually in lost productivity, healthcare expenses and environmental challenge.” 

The Analyst stated that every money spent on improving climate resilience and sanitation yielded high returns in increased productivity, reduced healthcare cost and enhanced quality of life. 

He said the Church should not only treat sanitation as a public health priority but also as a spiritual responsibility. 

He stated that through this they could uphold human dignity, protect the vulnerable and also demonstrated God’s love in action. 

Rev. Buamah noted that sanitation issues should not be shouldered by government alone and urged churches and faith-based leaders to preach, teach and be advocates of sanitation. 

Source: GNA