What is it about?
The COVID-19 pandemic showed how essential clean water and proper sanitation are for protecting health, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean. This paper explains that millions of people in the region still lack reliable access to water, soap, and sanitation, making basic prevention measures like handwashing difficult. The authors describe how existing social and economic inequalities made the pandemic’s impacts worse for vulnerable groups, including people living in poverty, informal settlements, and rural areas. The paper highlights why safe water services, good sanitation systems, and clear public communication are critical during health emergencies. It also offers practical recommendations for governments and water providers to strengthen water and sanitation services so communities are better protected during COVID-19 and future outbreaks.
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Why is it important?
This study is unique because it brings together public health, water management, and human rights perspectives to show how the COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep weaknesses in water and sanitation systems across Latin America and the Caribbean. Rather than focusing only on the virus itself, the paper demonstrates how lack of access to safe water and hygiene made it harder for millions of people to follow basic prevention advice, such as regular handwashing. It also highlights the often-overlooked role of water governance, financing, and communication in managing a health crisis. By translating scientific evidence and regional experience into clear, practical recommendations, this study offers decision-makers a roadmap for strengthening water and sanitation services in ways that can reduce health inequalities, improve pandemic preparedness, and protect vulnerable populations in future public health emergencies.
Perspectives
From a personal perspective, this paper makes clear that future pandemic preparedness in Latin America and the Caribbean cannot succeed without strong, resilient water and sanitation systems. COVID-19 showed that public health guidance—such as frequent handwashing—means little where water is unreliable, unaffordable, or unsafe. The findings highlight that water and sanitation services are not just infrastructure, but frontline public-health defenses. Strengthening these systems before the next outbreak—through better governance, sustained financing, protection of vulnerable communities, and clear risk communication—can reduce disease spread and prevent health systems from becoming overwhelmed. This study reinforces the idea that investing in water and sanitation is an investment in pandemic resilience, equity, and long-term public health security across the region.
Dr. Martin S Forde
St. George's University, Grenada
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Preliminary Assessment of COVID-19 Implications for the Water and Sanitation Sector in Latin America and the Caribbean, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, November 2021, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111703.
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