Archives: Resources

WASH Matters: Assessing Sanitation and Hygiene in Critical Facilities in host and refugee communities in Turkana and Garissa

An assessment of the WASH Practices and Needs in Schools and Health Facilities in Garissa and Turkana Counties

Supported by the Government of the Netherlands and UNICEF, this WASH assessment was conducted in June 2024 by REACH in collaboration with the County Governments of Garissa and Turkana, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, UNHCR, and the Refugee Affairs Secretariat. The assessment aimed to provide evidence-based information to influence humanitarian planning and responses within the WASH sector. Schools and HFs in Turkana and Garissa Counties were targeted in the host communities, Kalobeyei integrated settlement, and in Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps. A descriptive study design, census methodology, and quantitative approach were employed to collect and analyze the data. The assessment included 723 public primary schools and 306 public HFs in the two counties and camps. The findings revealed that communities face diverse priority WASH needs, underscoring the critical importance of developing tailored responses that address specific gaps and challenges in each facility.

WASH-related Needs Assessment in Schools and Health Facilities in Turkana County, Kenya (REACH Initiative)

The floods experienced in the last quarter of 2023 caused extensive damage to property and infrastructure in Turkana County, impacting the host community, refugees, and internally displaced persons (IDPs). An assessment targeting all public primary schools and healthcare facilities in the host communities and refugee camps in Turkana County in Kenya was undertaken in June 2024.

Global Progress Report on WASH, Waste and Electricity in Health Care Facilities (2025)

Essential services for quality care

Water, sanitation, hygiene, health care waste and electricity services in health care facilities
Global progress report

This joint WHO/UNICEF report provides the latest progress in ensuring universal access to water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH), waste and electricity services in health care facilities. Based on data from 101 countries, the report highlights progress in establishing standards, conducting baseline assessments, and developing national roadmaps. Progress has been made even in least developed countries, reflecting a readiness to implement. However, billions are still served by facilities without basic WASH, waste and electricity services. The report emphasizes that significant acceleration of effort and investment is urgently needed to meet 2030 global targets.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare waste management among Zambian health care workers (2022)

Poor management of health care waste poses a serious threat to the health of health care workers, patients and communities. In developing countries, adequate health care waste
management (HCWM) is often challenging. To address this, the Zambian Health Services Improvement Project with HCWM as a component, was implemented in five Zambian provinces (Luapula, Muchinga, Northern, North-Western and Western Provinces), under which this cross-sectional study was conducted to identify the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of health care workers on HCWM. Find the results in the paper!

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in HealthCare Facilities in Zimbabwe: An Overview

This fact sheet provides an overview of water, sanitation, and hygiene services in health care facilities in Zimbabwe based on data from the Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, the Vital Medicines Availability and Health Services Survey, and a regional scoping study on WASH in Health Care Facilities.