Dignity, Disease, and Dollars
Asia’s Urgent Sanitation Challenge
ADB advocates that sanitation be an urgent priority of governments and invites agencies to help utilities and communities accelerate actions to improve sanitation for all.

| Conference Report: 2nd ADB and Partners Sanitation Dialogue (23-25 May; Manila, Philippines) Nearly 300 participants from 45 countries explored actions needed to make sanitation and wastewater management a sustainable business. ADB presented its approach toward an Asia-Pacific Wastewater Management Revolution, while participants reaffirmed their commitment to work together toward ensuring sanitation for all in the Asia-Pacific region. |
ADB’s call to action—“Dignity, Disease, and Dollars”—has been chosen deliberately to focus attention on three areas where stakeholders need to see results:
- Better facilities for individuals so they can regain their dignity
- Disease prevention and healthy environment for the wider community
- Financial viability of sanitation services for provider governments and utilities in tandem with affordability for households
|
Sanitation: Why Invest? Find out some basic truths about sanitation and what countries have done to improve their sanitation situation. |
|
ADB’s Sanitation Agenda Find out how ADB plans to provide 200 million Asians with sustainable access to improved sanitation. |
|
References Read or download sanitation related documents available at ADB Water website. |
| Date | Events | Related Documents* |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | ||
| 25-28 May | Conference on Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems for Urban Environments in Asia (Manila, Philippines) | |
| 23-25 May | Making Sanitation a Sustainable Business: 2nd ADB and Partners Sanitation Dialogue (Manila, Philippines) | Conference Report Program and Materials |
| 2010 | ||
| 15-16 Jun | Regional Dialogue on Wastewater Management in Asia (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) | |
| 23 Apr | Sanitation and Water for All: Annual High Level Meeting (Washington D.C., USA) | |
| 26-27 Jan | Follow-up Conference of the International Year of Sanitation (Tokyo, Japan) | Program and Materials |
| 2009 | ||
| 2-4 Dec | World Toilet Summit and Expo (Singapore) | |
| 25 Nov | Sanitation Publications Book Launch (Manila, Philippines) | Invitation |
| 15-16 Oct | Philippine Symposium on Sustainable Sanitation (Makati City, Philippines) | Program |
| 7-11 Sep | 6th CITYNET Congress (Yokohama, Japan) | |
| 2 Jun | Stakeholder Consultations on Draft Philippine National Sewerage and Septage Management Program-Luzon (Manila, Philippines) | |
| 19 May | Stakeholder Consultations on Draft Philippine National Sewerage and Septage Management Program-Mindanao (Davao City, Philippines) | |
| 12 May | Stakeholder Consultations on Draft Philippine National Sewerage and Septage Management Program-Visayas (Cebu City, Philippines) | |
| 16-17 Apr | ADB-Viet Nam Sanitation Dialogue (Thanh Hoa, Viet Nam) | Program and Materials |
| 31 Mar - 2 Apr | WSP-EAP Economics of Sanitation Initiative Regional Workshop (Phnom Penh, Cambodia) | Program and Materials Meeting Report |
| 3-5 Mar | ADB-DMC Sanitation Dialogue (Manila, Philippines) | Program and Materials Highlights: Making Sanitation Everybody's Business Meeting Report |
Amy Leung
Director, Urban and Social Sectors Division, East Asia
E-Mail: aleung@adb.org
Anand Chiplunkar
Principal Water Supply and Sanitation Specialist
Email: achiplunkar@adb.org
Water: Crisis and Choices - ADB and Partners Conference 2010 (11-15 Oct; Manila Philippines)
More than 600 people discussed issues and solutions to the water crisis. ADB called for more credible partnerships to consolidate knowledge and coordinate solutions.
Sanitation in India: Progress, Differentials, Correlates, and Challenges
The key findings of this empirical research will help address significant challenges in enabling universal access to sanitation in India.
Asian Sanitation Data Book 2008
A new publication presents raw data and analyses on the sanitation situation in 27 cities.
Sanitation Actions. Read more stories in cities and communities.
More than 600 people discussed issues and solutions to the water crisis. ADB called for more credible partnerships to consolidate knowledge and coordinate solutions.
Sanitation in India: Progress, Differentials, Correlates, and Challenges
The key findings of this empirical research will help address significant challenges in enabling universal access to sanitation in India.
Asian Sanitation Data Book 2008
A new publication presents raw data and analyses on the sanitation situation in 27 cities.
Sanitation Actions. Read more stories in cities and communities.


