WASH Assessment and Surveillance System in Health facilities in the Gaza Strip
UNICEF supported the first-ever study titled “WASH Assessment and Surveillance System in Health facilities in the Gaza Strip,” funded by ECHO in partnership with the INGO WW-GVC. This study covered 21 health care facilities (5 hospitals and 16 primary healthcare clinics). The study used the triangulation of qualitative and quantitative information to allow a realistic translation of the data that would lead to more comprehensive results and generating evidence-based policy options for actions. This was achieved through face-to-face interviews with key personnel in each HCF (the medical/nursing director, admin director, IPC committee member and head of engineering and maintenance department) and a walk-through checklist inspection of the main WASH infrastructures and amenities by qualified engineers, hygiene and health experts. The data were analyzed in line with: (i) JMP Core indicators for availability of basic WASH services in HCFs, (ii) Advanced indicators from WASH in HCFs (WHO WASH FIT), (iii) Investment’s costs in the WASH infrastructure (an estimation for the coast of investments in WASH infrastructure rehabilitation. In addition, the assessment included key informant interviews with key personnel in the Ministry of Health (MoH), Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) and Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU) to evaluate the waterborne disease surveillance system implemented at the MoH and its ability to trigger an outbreak as well as roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in the response.
