Realising the Potential: Sanitation Interventions as Preventive Health Actions

Thursday 21 August
Lunch Side Event

Convenor : WaterAid

12:05-13:25   Room K24

Sanitation interventions can play a critical role in improving public health and securing progress on MDG 4 in developing countries. The objective of this side event is to consider the evidence and historical experience showing that sanitation and hygiene are extremely effective health interventions and to ask why, if this is the case, they have not been afforded greater priority by the health sector. This side event will bring together a number of expert speakers from The Lancet, WHO, UNICEF, USAID and WaterAid to present current thinking on these issues and to suggest ways in which the priority that is afforded sanitation can be lifted within the health sector. Outputs will include a summary note providing an overview of the presentations, salient points of discussion and key policy recommendations.

Speakers: Clarissa Brocklehurst (UNICEF), Jamie Bartram (WHO), Rhona MacDonald (The Lancet), John Borrazzo (USAID) and Oliver Cumming (WaterAid)