Making hygiene and sanitation affordable

Affordability of services such as hygiene and sanitation being debated in the 21st century seems somewhat of an oxymoron. Given how far civilisation has advanced, surely the assumption that adequate sanitation and hygiene facilities exist globally holds true? Sadly, not so. The need and hence investment in sanitation and hygiene services is not universally viewed in the same light the world over.

 

In developed economies with reasonably growing populations, these services are considered as part of the government’s responsibilities, to be provided to all citizens as a matter of course. In developing markets with growing populations and where a large part live below the poverty line, where the government is slow in taking up infrastructural reforms on account of the costs involved, they take a back seat when weighed against more pressing matters such as food availability.