Uzbekistan joins the Protocol on Water and Health

The document links water resources, environment, and public health sectors, helping countries address hygiene issues and ensure access to clean water.

Uzbekistan has joined the Protocol on Water and Health, which complements the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes. The announcement was made during the meeting of the Protocol’s parties held in Budapest.

According to Olga Mirshina, a specialist from the Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health, issues of hygiene, sanitation, water, and health are highly relevant for Uzbekistan, given its arid climate.

“Uzbekistan is located in the heart of Central Asia and is a country strongly affected by both climate change and water supply challenges,” she said.

The expert noted that the region’s dry climate affects sanitation conditions and the water supply system.

“We decided that the Protocol would be one of the key instruments to help us promote safe drinking water supply, proper sanitation, and the implementation of hygiene standards in all public facilities,” Mirshina explained.

In force since 2005, the Protocol helps countries ensure access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene for all segments of the population.

This legally binding document remains the only international agreement that directly connects the areas of environment, water resources, and public health.