Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Uzbekistan has become the 29th country in the world and the first in Central Asia to join the UN and WHO protocol on water and health.

According to Dunyo news agency, joining the protocol will help protect the population of Uzbekistan from water-related diseases and provide support in the field of water supply, sanitation, hygiene and healthcare.

It is emphasized that Uzbekistan is committed to using the practical tools and intergovernmental framework provided for by the Protocol to comprehensively address the above problems, consolidating its efforts within the framework of the Uzbekistan-2030 Strategy, which includes such priority areas as ensuring the health and well-being of the population, conserving water resources and environmental protection, as well as global commitments to achieve the 2030 Agenda with a special focus on SDGs 6 and 3.

As a new Party to the Protocol, the country commits to setting comprehensive water, sanitation, hygiene and health targets with a focus on climate impact, and to regularly reporting on progress towards achieving these targets.

UNECE stands ready to support the implementation of the above obligations under the Protocol, in particular through a recently launched project funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation

The Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe, Tatiana Molchan, calls on Central Asian countries to join this instrument to make water and health services more resilient to climate change.

Adopted in 1999, the Protocol on Water and Health is a multilateral environmental agreement under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the World Health Organization for the European region.

Its purpose is to protect the environment, ensure the health and well-being of people through sustainable management of water resources and ensure access to clean and safe water, sanitation and hygienic conditions for all.

The Protocol provides a legal framework and a range of practical tools for countries in the pan-European region collaborating to address water and sanitation issues, accelerate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 6, 3 and others, and support the implementation of relevant European Union water and sanitation directives.