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Exposing children to environmental pollutants during periods significant for their physiological development can lead to long-lasting health effects, dysfunction, and disease. The aim of this paper was to focus on a relatively scarce ambient AQ monitoring practice at the locations of preschol and school institutions in Serbia, within the local network of AQ monitoring stations. This was a cross-sectional study covering period 2015 to 2020. Measuring points (SO2, NO2, soot, PM10) were in front of kindergardens, primary and secondary schools in urban settlements. Results originate from the continuous public health programme conducted by the Institute of Public Health of Serbia. Only PM10 and B(a)P values at some points have exceeded annual limit values in front of chosen facilities in 2020. In sum, both the absolute number of urban ambient AQ measuring points monitored by the local network of Institutes of Public Health and those in front of the educational facilities have increased in this period: from 73/17 to 172/26. In a percentual view, these facilities are chosen more seldom within this time frame, dropping from 23.29 to 15.12% of all AQ monitoring points. As such facilities are mainly located at important city intersections, in order to assess the exposure to air pollution of vulnerable population groups (children from preschool to adolescence age), there is a need to locate measuring points near them.

Providing safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in health care facilities has a central place in achieving universal and equal access to WASH for all. Well-organized supply of safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene in health institutions is essential for patient health, quality of care, prevention and control of infections, suppression of antimicrobial resistance and improvement of ecological sustainability of the health system. Improving and maintaining WASH in healthcare institutions is a cornerstone in achieving SDGs, in particular SDG 6: Securing accessibility and sustainable water management and sanitation for all and SDG 3: Providing healthy living and promoting prosperity for all in all ages.

The microbial agents that cause infectious diseases are highly prevalent in health care facilities. Adequate water supply, sanitation and hygiene are the key elements for the provision of basic health services. The consequences of poor sanitary and hygienic conditions and inadequate water supply are numerous in health care facilities. The importance of improving water supply, sanitation and hygiene in health care facilities has been recognized as an international priority and set in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly through goal 3.8 and 6. The establishment and maintenance of safe water supply and adequate sanitary and hygienic conditions has multiple benefits for health care facilities. It is necessary to introduce and implement risk assessment and risk management approach as effective way of continuously ensuring and maintaining the safety of drinking water quality in health care facilities as recommended by the World Health Organization, in order to reduce the risks associated with inadequate water supply and protect health of patients and staff. Realization of activities on the improvement requires a multidisciplinary approach and good inter-sectoral cooperation at all levels local, national and global.

By the ratification of the Protocol on water and health, the Republic of Serbia accepted the obligations of that international treaty, which is also the key instrument in advancing the water-and-sanitation- realted goal of the Commitment to Act of the Parma Declaration on Environment and Health. For the purpose of the achieving and maintaining the established and validated Protocol on Watwr and Health targets, and in order to obtain the high level of protection against water-related diseases, the continuous cooperation between ministries and institutions of health and environment is needed, as well as the mobilization on local and regional level, which will contribute to awareness raising in each individual of the necessity of the water resources and environmental protection, as well as of the hygienic promotion and health protection.