WHO: Nearly two-thirds of Africans have no access to a toilet

(CNN) - The vast majority of Africans have no access to a toilet, according to preliminary data from a World Health Organization report to be published later this year.

The WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program for Water Supply and Sanitation said the data shows 62 percent of Africans and 2.6 billion people worldwide have no toilet at home "and thus are vulnerable to a range of health risks."

"Sanitation is a cornerstone of public health" said Dr. Margaret Chan, WHO's director-general. "Improved sanitation contributes enormously to human health and well-being, especially for girls and women. We know that simple, achievable interventions can reduce the risk of contracting diarrheal disease by a third."