A recent study published in the KeAi journal Global Transitions has demonstrated the critical relationship between water, sanitation, and hygiene access and cholera incidence in low- and middle-income countries. The research, analyzing data from 89 countries between 2000 and 2017, found that improved WASH facilities—particularly piped water—correlate with reduced cholera risk, while unimproved facilities like open defecation are associated with increased disease transmission.
The findings directly support international public health initiatives, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Task Force on Cholera Control's strategy to reduce cholera deaths by 90% and eliminate the disease in up to 20 countries by 2030. The study reveals significant regional disparities, with Sub-Saharan Africa showing 25.77% of cholera cases attributed to unimproved drinking water compared to 9.09% in Northern Africa and Western Asia.
According to the research, achieving universal access to improved sanitation could reduce cholera risk by 32.98% in Sub-Saharan Africa alone. This highlights how targeted WASH interventions could substantially impact public health outcomes in high-burden regions. The study provides evidence-based guidance for countries working toward UN SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) and the GTFCC's 2030 Roadmap.
The complete research is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.glt.2025.06.001. The analysis reinforces that safe WASH access represents not merely a development target but a fundamental prerequisite for cholera elimination efforts worldwide.
