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Wash health care facilities logo.
Wash health care facilities logo.

Many people around the world are served by health care facilities that lack the essentials for safe quality care including water, sanitation, hygiene materials and appropriate waste segregation.

Eight practical steps have been identified that countries can take at the national and sub-national level to improve WASH in health care facilities. These include national assessments and analyses, development of roadmaps, and targets and standards for WASH in health care facilities.

8 Steps

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Latest news & events

OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría on World Water Day 2020

Read more on this recent statement

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COVID-19 & WASH in HCF in the media

Read more about how WASH in HCF is fundamental for tackling COVID-19

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One-stop-shop for WASH in HCF resources

Check out the updated list of WASH in HCF related resources WHO and UNICEF has released an updated list of a range of key resources, including standards and guidance, tools, advocacy materials. It also includes key web links and related IPC, AMR and maternal and child health documents. Its an easy to read, quick link […]

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The widespread lack of WASH services in health care facilities not only compromises patient safety, dignity, and human rights but also holds back efforts to improve maternal and child health and significantly increases the risk of antimicrobial-resistant infections.

- Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization

WASH has been recognized as a prerequisite for quality care, particularly important for the safe management of childbirth.

- Henrietta Fore, Executive Director of United Nations Children’s Fund

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@WASH_FOR_HEALTH

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WHO avatarWorld Health Organization (WHO)@WHO·
18h

Now available! New guidelines 📙 to help countries maintain essential health services & safeguard health care workers 👨‍⚕️⚕️👩‍⚕️ during #COVID19 outbreak. 👉

#coronavirus

Maintaining Essential Health Services and Systems

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WHO avatarWorld Health Organization (WHO)@WHO·
28 Mar

FACT: #COVID19 is NOT airborne.

The #coronavirus is mainly transmitted through droplets generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks.

To protect yourself:
-keep 1m distance from others
-disinfect surfaces frequently
-wash/rub your 👐
-avoid touching your 👀👃👄

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antonioguterres avatarAntónio Guterres@antonioguterres·
27 Mar

We can all do something to combat the spread of #COVID19 - starting by washing our hands regularly and thoroughly for at least 20 seconds.

Thank you @USAmbUN Kelly Craft for inviting me to take the @WHO #SafeHands challenge. I now nominate @aminajmohammed & @UNYouthEnvoy.

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WaterAidUK avatarWaterAid UK 💦@WaterAidUK·
27 Mar

Our teams around the world are urgently scaling up work to install handwashing facilities in areas where people need them most in the face of #COVID19.

The time to act is now. Will you support our campaign? 👇

COVID-19 Emergency Work | WaterAid UK

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mvankerkhove avatarMaria Van Kerkhove@mvankerkhove·
26 Mar

I’ve recently had several colleagues ask me if @WHO has technical guidance for #COVID19...

YES! it is here:

Our guidance has been online since 10 Jan, and we regularly update it based on latest evidence. 👇

@DrTedros @DrMikeRyan @SCBriand

Technical guidance

www.who.int

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