Santo Domingo.– Dominican Republic became the first Caribbean country to host the Latin American Sanitation Conference (LatinoSan 2026), the main regional forum on water, sanitation, and hygiene, which brings together authorities, international organizations, experts, academics, business leaders, and civil society representatives to discuss solutions aimed at strengthening public health and sustainable development.
The 7th edition of the conference is taking place from June 2 to 4 in Punta Cana under the theme “Innovation, inclusion and resilience: sanitation that drives health, equity and sustainability in Latin America and the Caribbean”, with the support of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
During the opening ceremony, the Minister of Health, Víctor Atallah, highlighted that access to drinking water and sanitation constitutes one of the most important transformations to improve the population’s quality of life.
“Talking about sanitation is talking about health, dignity, resilience, opportunities, and equity. When sanitation works, it protects health, preserves the environment, and creates conditions for people to develop fully,” the official expressed.
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Atallah pointed out that Latin America and the Caribbean continue to face significant challenges related to access to water, sanitation, and the impact of climate change, factors that directly affect health, the environment, and development opportunities.
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For his part, the executive director of the National Institute of Potable Water and Sewerage, Wellington Arnaud, presented the progress of the Universal Sanitation Program for Coastal and Tourist Cities, highlighting the third phase of the Verón-Punta Cana Sewer and Aqueduct Project with reuse, whose investment is around one billion dollars.
“Over the last six years, our country has initiated a profound transformation that has allowed for raising the institutional and strategic maturity of the sector, driving the most important investments in our history in drinking water and sanitation infrastructure,” stated Arnaud.
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During the event, Miguel Baruzze, Head of Operations at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), also spoke, highlighting that LatinoSan has established itself as the main regional forum for debating policies and solutions regarding sanitation.
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The LatinoSan 2026 agenda includes five strategic pillars: urban sanitation and technological and social innovation; rural sanitation; governance, regulation, financing, and private participation; resilience and environmental sustainability; and coasts, tourism, biodiversity, and the blue economy.
The discussions will be oriented towards promoting innovative solutions, strengthening regional cooperation, and generating concrete commitments to advance towards universal and equitable access to sanitation, recognized as a fundamental human right and an essential component for public health.
The conference is organized by the Ministry of Public Health and INAPA, with the support of the IDB, and brings together delegations from across Latin America and the Caribbean to exchange experiences, strengthen alliances, and promote actions that contribute to building more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable sanitation systems.
