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Public Health & Epidemiology vocabulary · Environmental and Occupational Health

WASH

Meaning in public health & epidemiology, with examples

/wɒʃ/abbreviationCommon term

In public health & epidemiology, WASH means: Short for water, sanitation and hygiene: safe drinking water, toilets and the safe disposal of human waste, and handwashing, treated together as one area of public health.

In Turkish: su, sanitasyon ve hijyen

How it is used

Pronounced like the word 'wash'. Common in humanitarian and development work and in assessments of schools and health facilities. Poor WASH conditions spread diarrhoea, cholera and other infections. SDG 6 sets the global targets.

Example sentences

  1. The camp's WASH team installed new latrines and handwashing stations.

  2. Improving WASH in schools reduced absences caused by diarrhoea.

Common collocations

  • WASH programme
  • safe drinking water
  • sanitation facilities
  • hand hygiene
  • environmental healthThe branch of public health that deals with how the physical environment, including air, water, food, housing, noise and chemicals, affects people's health.
  • Sustainable Development GoalsSeventeen global goals adopted by all UN member states in 2015 to end poverty, protect the planet and improve lives by 2030; Goal 3 is about health and well-being.
  • transmissionThe passing of an infection from one person, animal or source to another, for example through the air, by touch, through food and water or by insects.
  • communicable diseaseAn illness caused by a microorganism, such as a virus, bacterium or parasite, that can pass from one person or animal to another.

More terms: Environmental and Occupational Health

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.