[United Society Partners in the Gospel] Never before have as many faith-based organizations and partners committed to highlighting progress and prioritizing paths forward to improve water, sanitation and hygiene, or WASH, inside hospitals and clinics.
Pope Leo XIV issued a statement of support, sending “the assurance of his spiritual closeness to the members of the health agencies and networks attending the gathering on improving water, sanitation and hygiene in healthcare facilities.” He further states he is “pleased to see so many organizations of various faith backgrounds working together on this press issue and seeking to improve the living standards of our brothers and sisters,” and imparted his Apostolic Blessing.
Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally issued a video statement, saying in part:
“As a former nurse, I know that clean water and good sanitation are essential to safe and effective healthcare. I’m therefore encouraged by the work already underway to strengthen Anglican health facilities in several countries, with more to come. I encourage all across our communion to support this vital work… I pray that this meeting will help extend these efforts, bringing lasting improvements to many more communities around the world.”
The pope and the archbishop of Canterbury added their voices to 100+ leaders, experts and field practitioners who gathered in Rome, Italy, for the April 22-23 working event to address the serious and solvable global health threat.
Faith-based organizations deliver 30–50% of healthcare services and operate a substantial share of facilities in some low-resource countries, often providing care where there would otherwise be none. The Catholic Church, the largest unified healthcare provider in the world, was the first to pilot a systemic initiative to get safer WASH into its healthcare facilities. Similar initiatives were presented by Anglican and Methodist denominations, with other religious groups increasing engagement. The 2-day fast-paced panels were livestreamed globally in English, French, Spanish and Italian.
“A commitment to safe, sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene is foundational to global health. As Anglicans committed to working in partnership with local communities across the world, we believe in a mission that serves the body as well as the soul, communities as well as individuals,” said the Rev. Duncan Domer, general secretary of the United Society Partners in the Gospel, a United Kingdom-based Anglican mission agency. “Ensuring safe health facilities through WASH prevents infections, safeguards patients, improves outcomes for mothers and babies, and restores dignity to women, men and children as well as building confidence in health systems and hospitals. It brings about a genuine transformation – ‘Burden to blessing’ indeed!”
Until 10 years ago, no one could have imagined how many healthcare facilities were running without water, functioning toilets, and places for healthcare providers to wash their hands. Global studies would reveal appalling conditions. Today, it’s known that across 60 low-resource countries, 37% of healthcare facilities lack basic water services, and 81% lack basic sanitation services. This critical absence of WASH means women have to haul water to give birth; maternal and infant morbidity and mortality increase, as do preventable illnesses and diseases, antibiotic resistance and poverty, according to the USPG press release.
The event was held under the Patronage of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. Co-conveners are: Caritas Internationalis, Catholic Relief Services, Daughters of Charity, Global Ministries/United Methodist Committee on Relief, Doctors with Africa, Catholic Health Association of the United States, Anglican Communion Health and Community Network, African Christian Health Associations Platform and Accord Network.
This growing global movement complements United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres’ global Call-to-Action in 2018: “We must work to prevent the spread of disease. Improved water, sanitation and hygiene in health facilities is critical to this effort.”