WHO has announced that water, sanitation and hygiene in health care facilities is one of 13 urgent health challenges to be addressed in this decade. The lack of these basics in health facilities is highlighted including that it leads to poor-quality care and an increased chance of infection for patients and health workers.
In recent months, WASH in health care facilities has been receiving more attention with articles published in the media and new blogs and videos. Below you will find links to recent articles and publications. The monthly WASH in HCF newsletter also includes links to recent articles. If you do not already receive the newsletter, please sign up at the bottom of the page.
BANGLADESH: “Untreated medical waste: a serious threat to public health”, The Daily Star, 28 October https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/news/untreated-medical-waste-serious-threat-public-health-1819624.
BANGLADESH: “Hospitals breach disposal rules”, The Daily Star, 23 November, https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/news/hospitals-breach-disposal-rules-1830775.
INDONESIA: “IAPMO Roundtable galvanizes Indonesian industry”, Contractor, November, https://www.contractormag.com/plumbing/article/20884335/iapmo-roundtable-galvanizes-indonesian-industry
INDIA: “72,045 PHCs in country don’t have toilet facilities for staff”, The Hindu, 25 November 2019: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/72045-phcs-in-country-dont-have-toilet-facilities-for-staff/article30079540.ece
KENYA: “What Kenyan women want in maternal healthcare”, Business Daily Africa, 27 November 2019: https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/corporate/health/Kenyan-women-want-in-maternal-healthcare/4258458-5365060-v2jak7/index.html
Save/USAID: “Cost analysis for Clean Clinic Approach Activities in Guatemala and Implications for Scale-Up”, https://www.mcsprogram.org/resource/cost-analysis-for-clean-clinic-approach-activities-in-guatemala-and-implications-for-scale-up/
UN Secretary General Video: “SG urges efforts to realize human rights to safe water & sanitation under European Protocol on Water & Health”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9El6vP5q-Js
WHO news: “World Toilet Day – in search of healthier health care in Cox’s Bazaar”, 21 November 2019: https://www.who.int/bangladesh/news/detail/21-11-2019-world-toilet-day—in-search-of-a-healthier-health-care-in-cox-s-bazar
WASH & AMR: WASH services critical to curbing antibiotic “quick fix” https://devpolicy.org/wash-services-critical-to-curbing-antibiotic-quick-fix-20191205/
WHO and UNICEF held a short webinar on 26th November 2019 to provide an update on progress following the 2019 global meeting on WASH in health care facilities. The webinar also featured the Government of Zambia talking about their recent activities. Watch the recording below.
Details of future webinars to be held in early 2020 will be shared on the site soon.
Despite the decrease in the number of maternal deaths, the world will fail to meet its 2030 Sustainable Development Goal target. In human terms, this means, at the current rate of progress, over an additional million women will lose their lives. Explore the latest maternal mortality estimates for 2017 as well as trends since 2000.
Read more here