Links between child health and environmental cleanlinessContaminated water and the absence of safe sanitation facilities are principal drivers of diarrhoeal illness, which continues to claim thousands of young lives across Africa each year. Although such communities contribute minimally to global pollution, they suffer disproportionately from its effects; supporting rural sanitation is therefore a matter of environmental justice. Empowering women and youth – ensuring maternal and child health remains a central priority. Environmental sanitation is not a luxury but a fundamental public-health service. When the world bent to sweep away waste on September 20, Africa recognised an opportunity to reduce maternal and child mortality.