WINDHOEK, March 11– Namibia has increased access to safe drinking water to 91.4 percent of households, up from 80 percent in 2011, but sanitation coverage remains a major challenge, with around 40 percent of households lacking basic toilet facilities, a government official said Wednesday.
Speaking during a joint commemoration of World Wetlands Day and World Water Day in Windhoek, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform Ruth Masake said that the country has made significant progress in improving access to potable water, particularly in urban areas.
According to Masake, 98 percent of urban households have yard water connections, while 87.5 percent of rural households have access to safe drinking water. About 90 percent of households in peri-urban or informal settlements access water mainly through communal standpipes.
Despite these gains, she warned that sanitation remains a major national challenge, with millions of people still lacking access to basic toilet facilities, contributing to public health risks and undermining dignity.
“These startling figures call for concerted efforts, investment, and technical capacity to redress these social inequalities and the national sanitation crisis,” Masake said.
Namibia marked the two international observances designated by the United Nations, World Wetlands Day, celebrated annually on Feb. 2, and World Water Day, observed on March 22, with a joint national event to raise awareness about water security and environmental protection.
Masake said wetlands play a crucial role in sustaining Namibia‘s biodiversity, supporting livelihoods, and preserving cultural heritage, particularly in rural communities where many people rely on wetland resources.
She noted that about half of Namibia‘s population lives in rural areas, with many communities depending on wetlands such as rivers, floodplains, and lagoons for their livelihoods.
Namibia is implementing programs such as the Namibia Water Sector Support Program to expand rural water supply and improve sanitation infrastructure in communities, schools, and health facilities, she added. (Namibia Daily News / Xinhua)
