Urgent Call Launched to Ensure Access to Safe Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene to Save the Lives of Thousands of Children
Comayagua, Honduras, February 11, 2026: World Vision inaugurated the Regional Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Forum in Comayagua, Honduras. The forum brings together government representatives, cooperation agencies, private sector partners, and civil society organizations to address the most pressing challenges related to safe water access, dignified sanitation, and hygiene across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).
In his opening remarks, Joao H. Diniz, World Vision’s Regional Leader for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), reminded participants that “1,000 children still die every day worldwide due to diseases linked to the lack of safe water, sanitation, and proper hygiene,” underscoring the urgency of accelerating action in the sector.
Although Latin America and the Caribbean hold some of the world’s most significant freshwater reserves, the region continues to experience deep inequalities. Diniz emphasized that “166 million people in our region still live without dignified and safe access to water,” fueling humanitarian, migration, and productivity crises, particularly in contexts such as the Dry Corridor, the Amazon, Haiti, and Andean regions.
With less than four years remaining until 2030, action must accelerate fourteenfold in safe water access and sevenfold in sanitation to meet Sustainable Development Goal 6: ensuring access to water and sanitation for all.
The Blue Thread: A Vision of Hope and Well-Being
World Vision introduced its regional strategy, “The Blue Thread / El Hilo Azul,” which recognizes access to water, sanitation, and hygiene as a catalyst for essential rights, including adequate nutrition, health, child protection, a healthy environment, and resilient and sustainable livelihoods.
“Safe water is not just about drinking a glass of water. It is about restoring ecosystems, protecting watersheds, generating sustainable livelihoods, ensuring menstrual hygiene, and enabling women, boys, and girls to live with dignity,” said Diniz.
There are 1,422 days remaining until 2030, the target year for achieving SDG 6: Water and Sanitation for All. However, international reports warn that achieving this goal will require significant acceleration, as current progress remains insufficient, and coverage of safely managed services “appears increasingly out of reach” at the present pace.
The forum highlights the importance of coordination among governments, multilateral organizations, the private sector, international cooperation partners, communities, and faith-based organizations.
Diniz stressed that multisector collaboration is the only path to ensuring water justice and holistic well-being for every child in the region.
AQUA Nexus: A Vehicle for Collective Action
During the event, World Vision launched AQUA Nexus, a platform designed to mobilize investment, innovative solutions, and strategic partnerships to strengthen water resilience invulnerable communities across the region, offering tailored packages according to donor priorities and community needs.
The Regional Leader concluded by inviting stakeholders to commit to joint and sustainable action:
“Today, we seek to bring together organizations willing to water the dreams of children through sustainable financing, community-sensitive investments, and a long-term vision that guarantees water justice across our continent.”
The Regional WASH Forum will feature three strategic panels addressing the state of water, sanitation, and hygiene in LAC; the ecosystem of WASH sector stakeholders; and trends, challenges, and financing opportunities for WASH.
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