Sanitation and Clean Water : The Critical Role of Nursing in Ensuring Clean Water and Sanitation in Pakistan

Access to clean water and safe sanitation is a basic human right, yet it remains out of reach for
millions in Pakistan. Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) “Ensure availability and
sustainable management of water and sanitation for all” is not just an environmental concern. It
is a public health emergency, and nurses are uniquely positioned to address it.
The Water Crisis in Pakistan: A Silent Public Health Threat:

Pakistan is among the top ten countries facing severe water scarcity. Over 21 million people lack
access to clean drinking water, and nearly 40% of the population lacks proper sanitation facilities
(UNICEF, 2023). These conditions fuel outbreaks of:
 Cholera
 Hepatitis A and E
 Typhoid
 Diarrheal diseases, especially in children

These are preventable illnesses, yet they remain leading causes of morbidity and mortality
particularly in rural and underserved urban areas.
Nursing’s Role in Promoting SDG 6:
Nurses, especially community and public health nurses, are key agents in addressing water and
sanitation-related health issues through education, advocacy, and preventive care.

1. Health Education and Community Outreach
   Nurses are often the most trusted health workers in communities. They:
    Teach families about safe water storage
    Demonstrate handwashing techniques
    Encourage boiling or filtering of drinking water
    Educate on hygienic latrine use and menstrual hygiene
   These interventions drastically reduce waterborne disease transmission.
2. School Health Programs
   School nurses or visiting health teams implement hygiene education in schools by:
    Conducting sessions on hand hygiene and oral health
    Promoting regular use of toilets

Ensuring girls have access to sanitary pads and hygiene education
This fosters lifelong healthy habits and improves school attendance, especially for girls.

3. Managing Outbreaks
   In times of floods or water contamination crises, nurses are at the front lines:
    Identifying early signs of disease outbreaks
    Administering oral rehydration therapy (ORT)
    Assisting in mobile clinics to provide care and distribute clean water kits
   Their quick response saves lives and prevents epidemics.
4. Advocacy and Policy Engagement
   Senior nurses and nursing associations can influence policies by:
    Advocating for investments in clean water infrastructure
    Collaborating with NGOs and government bodies
    Promoting water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs in healthcare facilities
5. Ensuring WASH in Healthcare Settings
   WASH stands for Water ,Sanitation and Hygiene this term is used in providing safe water
   sources, sanitation facilities and promoting good hygiene practices.
   A shocking number of rural health centers lack running water or clean toilets. Nurses ensure:
    Proper infection control through hand hygiene and clean environments
    Safe waste disposal practices
    Patient and caregiver awareness of hygiene protocols
   This improves patient safety, especially in maternal and neonatal care units.
   Challenges in the Pakistani Context
   Despite their importance, nurses in Pakistan face barriers such as:
    Inadequate training in environmental health
    Lack of support for community-based work
    Limited involvement in planning or policy-making
   These must be addressed to fully leverage their impact on SDG 6.

Conclusion: Nurses Guardians of Health and Clean Water
Clean water and sanitation are more than infrastructure they are foundations of public health.
Nurses in Pakistan are not only caregivers but change agents, bringing life-saving knowledge and
practices to the heart of communities.
If we aim to achieve SDG 6 by 2030, we must equip, empower, and support nurses as vital
partners in the fight for clean water, safe sanitation, and a healthier Pakistan.

I am Nazish Nizar Scholar of Aga Khan University Karachi. I did my
graduation from Dow University of Health Sciences in 2016 with a bronze medal. I worked in
Tertiary hospitals in different settings like medical wards, ICUs, gynaecology wards, and adult oncology.
I have versatile experience.