Archives: Resources

WASH Matters: Assessing Sanitation and Hygiene in Critical Facilities in host and refugee communities in Turkana and Garissa

An assessment of the WASH Practices and Needs in Schools and Health Facilities in Garissa and Turkana Counties

Supported by the Government of the Netherlands and UNICEF, this WASH assessment was conducted in June 2024 by REACH in collaboration with the County Governments of Garissa and Turkana, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, UNHCR, and the Refugee Affairs Secretariat. The assessment aimed to provide evidence-based information to influence humanitarian planning and responses within the WASH sector. Schools and HFs in Turkana and Garissa Counties were targeted in the host communities, Kalobeyei integrated settlement, and in Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps. A descriptive study design, census methodology, and quantitative approach were employed to collect and analyze the data. The assessment included 723 public primary schools and 306 public HFs in the two counties and camps. The findings revealed that communities face diverse priority WASH needs, underscoring the critical importance of developing tailored responses that address specific gaps and challenges in each facility.

WASH-related Needs Assessment in Schools and Health Facilities in Turkana County, Kenya (REACH Initiative)

The floods experienced in the last quarter of 2023 caused extensive damage to property and infrastructure in Turkana County, impacting the host community, refugees, and internally displaced persons (IDPs). An assessment targeting all public primary schools and healthcare facilities in the host communities and refugee camps in Turkana County in Kenya was undertaken in June 2024.

Terms of Reference for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Health Care Facilities Technical Working Group (2023) (English)

This document outlines the Terms of Reference for the national technical working group (TWG) on WASH in health care facilities in Kenya. It defines the TWG’s objectives, roles, guiding principles, and membership structure, aiming to support national WASH FIT roll-out, improve coordination and resource mobilization, guide policy, and strengthen infection prevention and climate resilience.

Kenya Health Facility Census Report (2023) (English)

A comprehensive national census of all health facilities in Kenya, this report provides a baseline on facility readiness, infrastructure, basic amenities (like water and power), availability of health services, workforce, and linkage to community health units. It includes data on access to water, hand hygiene facilities, IPC capacity, and gaps in tracer medicines, laboratory equipment, and disability-friendly infrastructure.

Health Care Waste Management Guidelines (2023) (English)

This publication provides comprehensive national guidelines for managing health care waste in Kenya. It outlines the types of healthcare waste, risk categories, legal and policy frameworks, and technical procedures for segregation, storage, collection, treatment, and disposal. The guidelines promote environmental protection, occupational health and safety, and compliance with infection prevention and control (IPC) standards.

Report on WASH FIT training in Kenya

This document is a training report of the national training on WASH FIT in Kenya. Ministry of Health Kenya, UNICEF HQ & UNICEF Kenya co-facilitated a WASH FIT training in October 2023 in Machakos town-Kenya. Find more about the training from the report below!

Improving water and hand-washing services in rural health care facilities in Kitui County, Kenya

Improving water and hand-washing services in rural health care facilities in Kitui County, Kenya
Authors: Jacob Katuva, Rob Hope, Ellie McBurney, Nancy Gladstone, Johanna Koehler, Cliff Nyaga, Dennis Njung’e

This brief presents policy recommendations for improving water and hand-washing services in rural health care facilities through a professional service delivery model. Annualised costs to provide safe and reliable water and soap services are estimated from actual cost data, providing a basis for county-level budgets and investment planning.