By George M.O. Williams
UNICEF has sounded the alarm over Sierra Leone’s stark rural hygiene gap, warning that only 15 percent of rural households have access to basic handwashing facilities, leaving millions of children vulnerable to preventable diseases.
The warning came during the 2026 commemoration of the Day of the African Child, held at Family Kingdom under the theme “Ensuring Universal Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Every Child in Africa.”
UNICEF Deputy Representative Mona Korsqard stressed that clean water, sanitation and hygiene are fundamental to children’s survival, education and dignity. While rural access to drinking water has improved from 38 percent in 2010 to 54 percent in 2022, she noted that progress on handwashing facilities remains “significantly slow,” fueling the spread of diarrhoeal and respiratory illnesses.
Korsqard further highlighted that poor sanitation in schools undermines learning, particularly for adolescent girls who lack facilities to manage menstrual hygiene. She warned that climate change is compounding the crisis, with flooding, saltwater intrusion and shifting rainfall patterns damaging fragile water systems. Coastal communities, where 1.3 million people depend on fishing for livelihoods and supply more than 80 percent of Sierra Leone’s animal protein, are especially affected by inadequate hygiene facilities at landing sites and markets.
UNICEF urged greater investment in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programmes, pointing out that the sector has received less than one percent of government expenditure in recent years.
Representing the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Aminata Y. Sannoh underscored that access to safe water and sanitation is a fundamental child right. She warned that without these services, children face heightened risks of disease, malnutrition, absenteeism and avoidable deaths—burdens that fall most heavily on rural communities, informal settlements and children with disabilities.
Professional Head of the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Augustine Tucker, acknowledged progress through partnerships with government, civil society and development partners, but admitted that rural and remote areas remain underserved. He cited ongoing interventions including rehabilitation of water systems, climate-resilient infrastructure, improved WASH facilities in schools and health centres, and community-led sanitation programmes.
Speaking for the Child Rights Coalition, Save the Children Advocacy Manager Victoria Squire called for stronger commitments and increased funding to bridge the urban-rural divide. She noted that many schools still operate without functional toilets, reliable water supplies or handwashing facilities, undermining children’s health, attendance and dignity.
Stakeholders at the event collectively urged urgent action to ensure every child in Sierra Leone has equal access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene services, in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 aspirations for sustainable water and sanitation systems