Effective infection prevention and control programs can positively influence quality of care, increase patient safety, and protect health care providers. Chlorine, a widely used and effective chemical disinfectant, is recommended for infection prevention and control in health care settings. However, lack of consistent chlorine availability limits its use. Electrolytic chlorine generators can address limited chlorine supply and stockouts by enabling onsite production of readily usable, high-quality chlorine cost-effectively. This research delves into assessing the viability – encompassing performance metrics, acceptability factors, chlorine accessibility, and cost considerations – of the electrolytic STREAM Disinfectant Generator developed by Aqua Research (New Mexico, USA) for bolstering infection prevention and control measures in primary healthcare facilities across Uganda. Read the findings of this research here!
Archives: Resources
WASH FIT Kobo toolbox in Nepali language
This Kobo toolbox is translated to Nepali language.
Inadequate sanitation in healthcare facilities: A comprehensive evaluation of toilets inmajor hospitals in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Lack of access to functional and hygienic toilets in healthcare facilities (HCFs) is a significant public health issue in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) leading to the transmission
of infectious diseases. Globally, there is a lack of studies characterizing toilet conditions and estimating user-to-toilet ratios in large urban hospitals in LMICs. This paper presents results from the conducted cross sectional study in 10-government and two-private hospitals to explore the availability, functionality, cleanliness, and user-to-toilet ratio in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Read the paper here!
UN Resolution & Framework for Action Flyer
This two-page flyer provides a brief overview of the recent UN Resolution on WASH, waste and electricity in HCFs and the accompanying Global Framework for Action.
Global Strategic Roundtable on WASH, waste & electricity in health care facilities-Meeting Report
WHO and UNICEF organized a global strategic roundtable on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), waste management, and electricity in health care facilities. The event took place on 23-24 May 2024 at IFRC headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. This Roundtable was a continuation of conversations initiated during the 2023 Global Summit on WASH, waste, and electricity in health care facilities held in Amman, Jordan. The previous summit involved representatives from 35 countries and gathered 130 participants. During the recent meeting, there was a soft launch of the Global Framework for Action 2024-2030. Participants engaged in discussions regarding the implementation of the UN General Assembly Resolution as well as strategies to reinforce integrated implementation, investment approaches, and leadership within this sector. A key outcome of this gathering is a preliminary consensus statement that will undergo thorough review before final approval by all stakeholders involved. The meeting report can be found here!
Costed Roadmap on WASH in health care facilities of Islamic Republic of Iran (2023)
This road map for health-systems strengthening developed based on the pre-determined objectives which were initiated from a precise reviewing the first step of WASH in healthcare facilities in Iran conducted during 2021 for 730 statistically representative HCFs regarding to the establishment of a reliable framework for conducting the roadmap. The objective of this National Coordination Mechanism and WASH Costed Roadmap in Healthcare Facilities is providing a framework to articulate a pathway that will strengthen all HCFs in Iran to provide standardized and effective WASH services and generate a new way of public quality healthcare, with consideration of the costs associated with the suggested interventions. Please find the costed roadmap here!
Global Strategy on Infection Prevention and Control
A resolution on infection prevention and control (IPC) was presented and adopted by consensus at the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly. The resolution included 13 calls to Member States for improving IPC at the national, subnational and facility levels, in line with the World Health Organization-recommended core components for IPC programmes. It also requested the Director-General to develop a global strategy on IPC (GSIPC), a global action plan, and a monitoring framework in consultation with Member States and regional economic integration organizations. This Global Strategy on IPC and Monitoring framework is approved now by member states on WHA77. Find the Global strategy here!
Global Framework for Action 2024–2030 for water, sanitation, hygiene, waste and electricity services in all health care facilities
The Framework serves to guide efforts to deliver safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), health care waste management and reliable electricity in all health care facilities. The ultimate aim is to provide quality care for all. The Framework reflects a global consultative process and includes data and recommendations articulated in recent WHO/UNICEF global reports on WASH, waste and electricity in health care facilities. It also provides an operational roadmap for implementing the 2023 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution on WASH, waste and electricity in health care facilities. The target audiences for this Framework include health leaders and programme managers at the global and national levels; policymakers; WASH, waste and energy leaders and technical experts; development partners and finance institutions; and actors and experts on gender equality, disability and social inclusion and climate; and, more generally, civil society. The Framework deals with the WASH, waste and electricity elements of the WHO comprehensive approach to build safe, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable health care facilities. Find the framework here
High Level Ministerial luncheon on WASH in Health care facilities-WHA77
Honourable Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, the Minister of Health in Malawi, hosted a high-level ministerial luncheon on WASH in health care facilities in Geneva on May 30, 2024. The event was attended by representatives from Liberia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, the Republic of Tanzania, The Gambia, and Japan along with partners from SIDA. Discussions at the meeting centered around reviewing outcomes and priority actions related to IPC, WASH, waste management, and electricity provision in health care facilities. Additionally, participants discussed identifying critical linkages to enhance climate resilience and improve services in health care facilities. Find the presentation here!
Does WASH FIT improve water, sanitation, and hygiene and related health impacts in healthcare facilities? A systematic review
This systematic review evaluates whether WASH FIT improves environmental health services or associated health outcomes and impacts. The conducted methodology is a database searches to identify relevant studies and extracted data on study design, healthcare facility characteristics, and inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impacts associated with WASH FIT. The study included 31 studies in the review. Find the study here!