Today 2.4 billion people still live without access to improved sanitation, forcing one in ten of those people to practice open defecation.  This lack of improved sanitation results in the increased spread of disease and sanitation related deaths like cholera and diarrhea. According to the World Health Organization, 1.5 million people die from diarrheal disease each year; 24% of those deaths are children below the age of five from low-income countries. Diarrhea is the second largest killer of children worldwide; it results in more deaths than HIV/Aids, TB and measles combined (Rose George, 2008).

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Open defecation, pit latrines and primitive waste management contribute to the increased health risk associated with these sanitation related deaths. ​

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Fortunately, studies show every US dollar invested in the WASH sector returns $4.30 through averted health care costs and increased productivity in the workplace (WHO 2018 ). Focusing on improving sanitation conditions results in decreasing the gravity and impact of malnutrition, improving safety particularly for women, boosting school attendance and offers the potential to recover water, energy and nutrients from human waste (WHO, 2018).

 

Triangle Environmental works to combat the sanitation crisis through productive and effective partnerships. Cooperation and focused development allow the advancement of sustainable sanitation solutions for communities who lack safe sanitation.

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