Solomon Islands Steps Up Sanitation Drive as Nation Marks World Toilet Day 2025
HONIARA, 19 November 2025 – Solomon Islands today joined the global community in commemorating World Toilet Day, an annual observance dedicated to raising awareness of the urgent sanitation challenges faced by countries worldwide, and to promote practical solutions to accelerate progress.
This year’s theme, “Sanitation in a Changing World,” underscores the enduring need for safe and accessible toilets and the importance of building climate-resilient sanitation systems. The accompanying tagline, “We’ll always need the toilet,” reinforces the message that sanitation is a basic human right, essential in every context, regardless of the challenges we face.
The theme resonates deeply with the situation in the Solomon Islands, where the country continues to grapple with high rates of open defecation and increasing climate vulnerabilities.
According to the Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) 2024 and the 2019 Population and Housing Census (PHC), Solomon Islands increased access to basic sanitation from 30 per cent of the population in 2015 to 35 percent in 2025.
Despite progress, about 45 per cent of the population continues to face challenges in accessing toilet facilities and are still practicing open defecation.
Approximately 65,000 households remain without access to any toilet facilities according to the PHC 2019, which highlights the need for continued investment and support to accelerate progress toward universal access to basic sanitation.
These figures highlight the enormous work required to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.2 target: ending open defecation and ensuring universal access to basic sanitation by 2030.
The Solomon Islands is currently off track in achieving this goal. Despite that, the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) has over the years demonstrated its commitment through the development and implementation of key policies and strategies, including the National Development Strategy (NDS 2016-2035) the WATSAN Policy and Implementation Plan, and the Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (RWASH) Policy and Strategy.
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) has developed and is implementing the National Sustainable Sanitation Plan (NSSP) with support from development partners such as the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and UNICEF. As a result:
- Over 21,000 people now have access to improved sanitation.
- 180 villages have been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF).
- Three provinces have developed costed ODF plans.
While these achievements are commendable, the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) recognizes that substantial gaps remain. Accelerated efforts are needed to expand access to improved sanitation across the country.
MHMS Permanent Secretary, Pauline McNeil, reaffirmed the Ministry’s ongoing leadership and commitment in driving progress towards safer sanitation to achieve the SDG and NDS targets for sanitation.
“We pledge to intensify efforts to ensure every citizen has access to safe and dignified sanitation.
“We have made progress, but we must continue to work together with our development partners, provincial governments, and communities to ensure that every household has access to proper sanitation facilities. We extend our sincere appreciation to our development partners for their continued support and call on them to sustain their engagement,
Mrs McNeil urges all citizens to take action and end open defecation by building toilets and practicing good sanitation. Together, we can create a healthier, safer, and more resilient Solomon Islands,” Mrs McNeil adds.
The Government through its relevant ministries, MHMS, Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification, Ministry of Rural Development, and Ministry of Provincial Government Institutional Strengthening and Ministry of Education and Human Resources will continue to prioritize sanitation in development planning, budgeting, and financing. Collaboration with development partners will remain critical for technical support, capacity development, and resource mobilization.
ENDS///