SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands brings people together in support of hand hygiene improvement globally and to progress the goal of maintaining a global profile on hand hygiene in health care. The campaign aims to galvanise action at the point of care to demonstrate that hand hygiene is the entrance door for reducing health care-associated infection and patient safety. It also aims to demonstrate the world's commitment to this priority area of health care.
The findings in this first multi-country review of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in health care facilities (HCFs) are sobering. Drawing on data from 54 low- and middle-income countries, the report concludes that 38% lack access to even rudimentary levels of water, 19% lack sanitation and 35% do not have water and soap for handwashing. When a higher level of service is factored in, the situation deteriorates significantly.
In celebration of World Health Day on April 7—the World Health Organization's (WHO) annual campaign day highlighting priority health concerns—this issue of Water Currents focuses on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in health care facilities (HCF), a topic that is gaining wider interest and support. This year’s theme is universal health coverage, which means that all people and communities have access to quality health services where and when they need them, without suffering financial hardship.
With International Women’s Day celebrated March 8 and World Water Day on March 22, it is a month for big ideas—about women and about water. On March 21, the intersection of these two crosscutting development issues and their respective global campaign days brought together advocates, practitioners, academics, and organizations passionate about championing women’s roles in improving access to water for a jointly hosted event titled “Call to Action: Supporting Women through Water.” The U.S.
In 2015, WHO and UNICEF launched the first global report on the status of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in healthcare facilities in low- and middle-income countries. It revealed that healthcare facilities often lack access to water, sanitation and the means to maintain good hygiene, seriously undermining the quality of healthcare. Since then, WaterAid has been working with partners and ministries of health to improve WASH in healthcare facilities in several countries.
Purpose of this Webinar
Cost data are critical to ensuring sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) service delivery in healthcare facilities (HCF), but standardized cost collection methods are lacking. Researchers at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill developed a 10-step costing model method to collect cost evidence. CDC researchers calculated total program costs for a short-term WASH program in 117 HCF in 5 districts in western Kenya. These researchers provide valuable insight into understanding costs data collection in WASH in HCF.
When responding to outbreaks of cholera, typhoid fever, Ebola virus, and other infectious diseases the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) often works with partners to improve drinking water safety and hygiene in health care facilities (HCFs). Typical engagements include distributing locally made, portable handwashing and drinking water stations; providing education; and supplying soap for handwashing and products for onsite chlorination of drinking water.
This two-page brief outlines the challenges facing water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in maternal and perinatal health, and proposes actions to address them via improved WASH in health facilities, greater leadership for ministries of health, increased coordination with other sectors, and better accountability.
