World Water Day, observed every year on March 22, is a global initiative led by the United Nations to raise awareness about the importance of freshwater and promote the sustainable management of water resources. It highlights that access to safe and clean water is fundamental to health, wellbeing, and sustainable development.
The theme for World Water Day 2026, Water and Gender, draws attention to the unequal impact of the global water crisis. While water challenges affect everyone, women and girls often bear the greatest burden, particularly in communities where access to safe drinking water and sanitation remains limited. This year’s theme calls for placing women and girls at the centre of water solutions, recognizing that improving water access can also drive greater equality.
Despite global progress, billions of people still lack access to safely managed drinking water and sanitation services. Water-related challenges are closely linked to public health, gender equality, climate change, and economic development. As highlighted by global organisations such as UN-Water and UNESCO, addressing these challenges is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.
In this blog, we highlight recent publications from the BMC Series journals, including BMC Public Health and BMC Chemistry. These studies explore the impact of safe water access, the relationship between water and health, and innovative approaches to water purification.
Access to safe drinking water is one of the most effective ways to prevent infectious diseases, particularly among vulnerable populations. A study published in BMC Public Health evaluated the impact of safe water delivery combined with water, sanitation, and hygiene behavior change communication (WASH-BCC) on diarrheal disease prevalence among children under five years in a slum setting in Nairobi, Kenya.
The study found that improving access to affordable, safe, and clean water, along with WASH-BCC interventions such as safe water handling, hygiene practices, and sanitation awareness, significantly reduced the prevalence of diarrheal disease among young children. By integrating water access with community-level education, the study demonstrates how simple, scalable interventions can lead to meaningful improvements in child health. It reinforces the importance of combining infrastructure, awareness, and behavior change to address water-related health challenges.
BMC Public Health – Flowing toward well-being: exploring the nexus of clean water access and sexual reproductive health among women and girls in rural Uganda
In many communities, women and girls bear the primary responsibility for water collection due to entrenched gender norms. The time spent fetching water often limits opportunities for education, employment, and social participation, while inadequate access to clean water can negatively impact their sexual and reproductive health.
A study published in BMC Public Health explored how access to clean water influences sexual and reproductive health among women and girls in rural Uganda. The findings revealed that limited water access affects menstrual hygiene, increases exposure to unsafe conditions, and places additional physical and emotional burdens on women and girls. In contrast, improved water access was associated with better hygiene practices, enhanced safety, and overall wellbeing.
Using gender norms as a key lens, the study highlights how being a woman or girl shapes experiences of accessing water. It underscores the interconnected nature of water, health, and gender equality, showing that improving water access not only enhances health outcomes but also empowers women and girls and supports broader social and developmental goals.
Alongside improving access to water, innovation in water purification technologies is essential to address global water challenges. Research published in BMC Chemistry explores the use of Moringa oleifera seed proteins in developing nanoemulsions for water purification. The study demonstrates that these naturally derived biocoagulants can effectively remove impurities from water, offering a sustainable and potentially low-cost alternative to conventional chemical treatments. By leveraging plant-based materials, this approach aligns with environmentally friendly practices and reduces reliance on synthetic chemicals.
Such innovations highlight the potential of combining biotechnology with sustainable resources to develop efficient water treatment solutions. As water scarcity and pollution continue to rise, these approaches offer promising pathways for improving water quality, particularly in resource-limited settings.