This national roadmap outlines Malawi’s strategic plan to achieve universal WASH in healthcare facilities by 2030. It includes eight action areas: situational analysis, national targets, standards, infrastructure, monitoring, workforce development, community engagement, and operational research. The roadmap supports alignment with WHA resolutions and global SDG targets.
Archives: Resources
National Standards and Guidelines for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in Health Facilities (2024) (English)
These standards define the national benchmarks for WASH in Malawi’s health facilities, addressing water access, sanitation, hygiene, waste management, environmental cleaning, climate resilience, and emergency preparedness. Developed by the Ministry of Health with development partners, the guidelines support facility-level implementation and align with SDGs 3 and 6.
Infection Prevention, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene, and Antimicrobial Stewardship Guidelines (2020) (English)
This comprehensive guideline integrates IPC, WASH, and Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) practices across Malawi’s healthcare system. It includes detailed SOPs, standard precautions, cleaning and disinfection protocols, lab biosafety, outbreak management, and AMR mitigation. The document serves as a national reference for all facility levels and health worker cadres.
National Healthcare Waste Management Policy (2024) (English)
This policy provides strategic guidance for safe and sustainable healthcare waste management in Malawi. It addresses governance, infrastructure, human capacity, social behavior change, and environmental health. The policy is aligned with Malawi Vision 2063 and SDGs 3 and 6, with an emphasis on coordinated implementation across sectors, including development partners, local governments, and the private sector.
Health Care Waste Management Guidelines (2024) (English)
These updated national guidelines provide a structured approach to managing healthcare waste in Malawi. They include guidance on waste minimization, segregation, transport, treatment, disposal, risk mitigation, and the integration of private sector services. The guidelines align with national and international legal frameworks and support implementation planning and monitoring across all levels of the healthcare system.
Terms of Reference for WASH-FIT Task Force Malawi (2023) (English)
This document defines the mandate and operational structure of the WASH-FIT Task Force in Malawi. The Task Force, under the Ministry of Health’s National Health Care Waste Management Steering Committee, coordinates the national rollout of the WHO WASH-FIT tool. It outlines responsibilities such as training, supervision, monitoring, partner coordination, and data reporting at national, district, and facility levels.
National Infection Prevention and Control Policy (2024) (English)
This policy outlines Malawi’s national framework for Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) in healthcare settings. Developed by the Ministry of Health’s Quality Management Directorate, the document aims to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), promote evidence-based practices, and integrate IPC into the national health system. It includes clear governance structures, implementation plans, monitoring frameworks, and links to the Health Sector Strategic Plan III and Vision 2063.
WASH in Healthcare Facilities Roadmap – Malawi
Developed by the Ministry of Health in Malawi, the purpose of the roadmap is to provide direction for the health sector to strengthen the WASH interventions being implemented in healthcare facilities.