Community of Practice
The WASH in HCF Community of Practice Initiative, facilitated by the Water Institute at UNC, is an action-oriented learning platform seeking to connect practitioners around the world.
The WASH in Healthcare Facilities Community of Practice (COP) seeks to bring together practitioners from across the globe to share experiences in providing and sustaining these critical services. Originally launched by Emory University in 2021, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill’s Water Institute serves as the current Secretariat. The COP contributes to the global WASH in health care facilities initiative co-led by WHO and UNICEF through three main objectives:
- Connect in-country WASH in healthcare facility implementers with the evidence, resources, potential partners, and funding mechanisms they need to develop, implement and advocate for WASH in HCF programs
- Provide a platform for the Community of Practice to share experience, ideas and best practices for WASH in HCF programming
- Encourage members to take action based on the latest research and best practices
Join 1000+ members to Connect. Share. Act.
for WASH in Healthcare Facilities.
Upcoming events
Stay tuned for information about the next event.
Previous events
Measuring WASH Adequacy
This session presented on the Institutional WASH Insecurity Experiences (INWISE) project, in both schools and health care facilities.
The recording of the session here.
WASH FIT Report Launch
This session launched the newly published WASH FIT implementation report from WHO/UNICEF, with examples of WASH FIT use from Nepal and Benin.
Watch the recording here.
Water Quality
This COP session….
Watch the recording here.
JMP 2024 Report Launch
This session launched the JMP 2024 Progress Report on WASH in HCFs.
Watch the recording here.
Active Groups within the WASH in HCF Community of Practice
Cleaners Community of Practice
The Cleaners Community of Practice (CoP) is a group of researchers, clinicians, practitioners, implementers, and advocates that focuses on cleaners and environmental cleaning within healthcare facilities.
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Often neglected and overlooked, cleaners are the primary personnel responsible for ensuring safe and clean conditions for patients and staff, yet often obtain inadequate training, receive low pay, and have inadequate access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Download the guidance note on elevating the role of cleaners in healthcare facilities here.
Join the Cleaners Community of Practice to learn how you can elevate the critically important role of cleaners in healthcare facilities! Please email helling@worldvision.org to join the list.
Decentralized Chlorine Production Community of Practice
The global community of practice (CoP) on decentralized chlorine production is an international consortium of civil society organizations, private-sector companies, and individuals seeking to advancing innovative chlorine generation technologies and service delivery models for disinfection and water treatment.
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This Community of Practice functions as a learning, networking, and research platform which aims to stimulate collaborative and transparent discussion among partners on lessons learned, evidence gaps, and candid feedback on challenges faced during the use of on-site chlorine generators. To participate in quarterly meetings and receive updates and news, join the Decentralized Chlorine Production Community of Practice by contacting Adam Drolet (adrolet@path.org).
Recent Events:
– September 2023: Slides
– March 2023: Slides
– November 2021: Slides
– May 2021: Slides
Value proposition. Poor water, sanitation, and hygiene practices contribute to the spread of infections, diseases, and negative health outcomes in healthcare facilities and communities. Chlorine is a widely used, effective chemical disinfectant recommended for infection prevention and control in health care settings. However, despite its proven effectiveness, the lack of consistent availability limits the ability of healthcare facility staff to provide a safe and hygienic environment for patients. A global survey of healthcare facility conditions in 78 low-and middle-income countries revealed 36.4% lacked chlorine solution for disinfection. Chlorine can also serve as a critical tool for the delivery of safely managed water services for communities.
“A healthcare facility without WASH is not a healthcare facility.“
Dr. Maria Neira, Director of Public Health and Environment, World Health Organization