sanitasi

Sanitasi refers to the set of practices, infrastructure, and policies aimed at maintaining hygiene and preventing disease through safe handling of human waste, water supply, and environmental sanitation. The concept encompasses the collection, treatment, and disposal of excreta, the provision of clean drinking water, solid‑waste management, and the promotion of personal hygiene behaviors such as handwashing. Effective sanitasi reduces the transmission of water‑borne and fecal‑oral pathogens, contributing to lower rates of diarrheal diseases, cholera, and other infections, particularly among children under five.

In many developing countries, inadequate sanitasi remains a major public health challenge. Rapid urbanization often outpaces the expansion of sewage networks, leading to open defecation, contaminated waterways, and increased exposure to pollutants. Rural areas may rely on pit latrines or communal toilets that lack proper containment, while informal settlements frequently lack basic waste‑collection services.

National and international initiatives have sought to improve sanitasi through the construction of sewer systems, promotion of low‑cost latrine designs, and the integration of hygiene education into school curricula. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 explicitly targets universal access to safe water and sanitation services by 2030. Monitoring frameworks typically assess access rates, functionality of facilities, and behavioral uptake of hygiene practices.

Technological advances such as eco‑sanitation, anaerobic digestion of waste, and water‑recycling systems are increasingly adopted to enhance sustainability. Successful sanitasi programs generally combine infrastructure investment, community participation, and regulatory enforcement to achieve lasting health benefits.