Safe Water and Sanitation for Every Child
Botswana reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring every child has access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) as the country commemorated the Day of the African Child 2026
Observed under the theme "Ensuring Universal Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) for Every Child in Africa," the national commemoration brought together children, government leaders, development partners, traditional leaders and communities to renew collective action towards achieving equitable and climate-resilient WASH services for every child.
The Day of the African Child honours the courage of the students who took part in the 1976 Soweto Uprising and continues to serve as a call for governments and partners to advance the rights and wellbeing of children across the continent.
Addressing the gathering, Honourable Kebuang Nono Kgafela-Mokoka, Minister of Child Welfare and Basic Education, emphasized that access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene is fundamental to children's rights and sustainable development. "Access to WASH is not merely a development goal; it is a right," she said, highlighting Botswana's continued investments in expanding access to improved water services, strengthening hygiene promotion and upgrading sanitation facilities in schools and communities.
The Minister also reaffirmed the Government of Botswana's commitment to improving school infrastructure and ensuring that every child can learn in a safe, healthy and dignified environment.
peaking on behalf of UNICEF Botswana, Samuel Phiri, Acting Deputy Representative, called for accelerated investment in child-responsive WASH systems, particularly for children living in rural, underserved and climate-vulnerable communities.
"Access to WASH is not just a development goal; it is a human rights obligation," he said, noting that safe water, sanitation and hygiene are critical to improving children's health, keeping girls and boys in school, preventing disease and strengthening resilience to climate-related shocks.
The commemoration also highlighted the wider challenges affecting children across Africa, including poverty, inequality and climate change, and underscored the importance of coordinated action to ensure that no child is left behind.
The event reaffirmed Botswana's commitment to the aspirations of Agenda 2063, Africa's Agenda 2040 and the Sustainable Development Goals, while strengthening partnerships between government, communities, development partners and children themselves.
By investing in safe water, sanitation and hygiene, Botswana is investing in healthier children, stronger communities and a more resilient future - ensuring that every child can survive, learn and thrive.
For every child, water, sanitation and a healthy future.
