Fund sanitation today to avoid the cost of inaction tomorrow

Investing in sanitation is not a loss, it is a powerful gain. It brings health, dignity and economic stability not only to individuals but to entire communities and nations. Yet, despite its immense value, sanitation remains one of the most underfunded sectors in both public and household budgets. Why?Unlike the immediate visibility of new highways, hospitals or government buildings, the benefits of sanitation infrastructure are often quiet and unseen. A toilet doesn’t announce itself the way a new bridge does, but its role is no less essential. Its impact can be even more profound.Sanitation is too often treated as an afterthought, something to address once other “pressing” needs are met. This approach is not only shortsighted; it’s dangerously costly. Poor sanitation is a silent killer, especially through illnesses that are sanitation-borne. These illnesses bring medical expenses that can plunge people into long-term poverty. For nations, they reduce workforce productivity, overwhelm healthcare systems and repel tourism and investment. The economic toll is immense. Inaction doesn’t just cost money, it costs lives and opportunities.At the national level, sanitation frequently lacks a dedicated budget line, leaving it vulnerable to funding cuts and delays. The same pattern is mirrored at the household level. Families consistently budget for food, transport and school fees but rarely for proper toilets, handwashing facilities or maintenance of hygienic spaces. Sanitation is addressed, if at all, with leftover funds.This reactive mindset creates a cycle of emergency spending. Consider a cholera outbreak: governments must suddenly mobilise clean water, deploy medical teams, run treatment campaigns and raise public awareness. These emergency responses strain already limited health budgets, and worse, they come after damage has been done.When sanitation-related illnesses strike, the consequences ripple through every layer of society. Families lose income when a breadwinner is ill. Children miss school, falling behind or dropping out. Businesses suffer when employees can’t work. Entire economies slow as large portions of the population are debilitated by diseases that could have been prevented.Reframe sanitation mindset We must reframe how we see sanitation, not as a luxury or a secondary concern but as foundational infrastructure, as vital as roads or electricity. It underpins health systems, education and economic growth.According to the World Health Organisation, every dollar invested in sanitation yields more than five dollars in economic return. In the words of our president, we live in a “business-unusual” era. Namibia cannot afford to delay. Our population is small, and the stakes are too high for inaction.If we continue to treat sanitation as optional, we will continue to pay with lives, with public funds, and with lost development potential. But if we act now, if we invest wisely and boldly, we can build healthier communities, stronger economies and a resilient future for generations.Sanitation saves lives. It protects dignity. It drives progress. The time to prioritise it is now.*Wayambekange N Hamufenhu is a pan-African sanitation advocate and Inspire Fellow Alumni.

Fund sanitation today to avoid the cost of inaction tomorrow

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-17

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Fund sanitation today to avoid the cost of inaction tomorrow

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-17

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