Health Systems Under Pressure: What the WHO/UNICEF Report Means for Uganda.

A new joint report from WHO and UNICEF warns that across the world, billions of people still depend on health care facilities that lack clean water, sanitation, hygiene systems, waste management, or reliable electricity.

As of 2023, over 1.1 billion people were served by facilities with no basic water service, and nearly 3 billion lacked basic sanitation.
While many countries (including Uganda) are showing improved readiness and drafting national plans, financing remains the biggest hurdle.

The report launches today at a UN meeting, calling on governments and donors to close the “last mile” gaps in health infrastructure.

Why it matters: As global health crises (pandemics, outbreaks) remind us how fragile systems are, this report underscores that investment in basic health infrastructure is non-negotiable for resilience — especially in low-income countries.