Whether in the home, the community, or the wider environment, health risks resulting from people’s unsafe living conditions proliferate. Three billion people – 40 per cent of the world’s population – have no facilities at home to wash their hand s with water and soap. Nearly half of all schools have no handwashing facilities with water and soap, affecting 900 million school-age children, and 43% of health care settings have no hand hygiene facilities at points of care where patients are treated. Social disadvantage increases the likelihood that someone will be exposed to violence in their family or community , directly or indirectly as a witness. In turn, violence – and the poorer health that results from exposure to it can exacerbate social disadvantage. Currently, over 7 million people a year die from exposure to air pollution – 1 in 8 of all deaths. Over 90% of people breathe outdoor air with pollution levels exceeding WHO air quali...
