Lack of access to functional and hygienic toilets in healthcare facilities (HCFs) is a significant public health issue in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) leading to the transmission
of infectious diseases. Globally, there is a lack of studies characterizing toilet conditions and estimating user-to-toilet ratios in large urban hospitals in LMICs. This paper presents results from the conducted cross sectional study in 10-government and two-private hospitals to explore the availability, functionality, cleanliness, and user-to-toilet ratio in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Read the paper here!
Year Issued: 2024
UN Resolution & Framework for Action Flyer
This two-page flyer provides a brief overview of the recent UN Resolution on WASH, waste and electricity in HCFs and the accompanying Global Framework for Action.
Global Strategic Roundtable on WASH, waste & electricity in health care facilities-Meeting Report
WHO and UNICEF organized a global strategic roundtable on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), waste management, and electricity in health care facilities. The event took place on 23-24 May 2024 at IFRC headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. This Roundtable was a continuation of conversations initiated during the 2023 Global Summit on WASH, waste, and electricity in health care facilities held in Amman, Jordan. The previous summit involved representatives from 35 countries and gathered 130 participants. During the recent meeting, there was a soft launch of the Global Framework for Action 2024-2030. Participants engaged in discussions regarding the implementation of the UN General Assembly Resolution as well as strategies to reinforce integrated implementation, investment approaches, and leadership within this sector. A key outcome of this gathering is a preliminary consensus statement that will undergo thorough review before final approval by all stakeholders involved. The meeting report can be found here!
Global Strategy on Infection Prevention and Control
A resolution on infection prevention and control (IPC) was presented and adopted by consensus at the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly. The resolution included 13 calls to Member States for improving IPC at the national, subnational and facility levels, in line with the World Health Organization-recommended core components for IPC programmes. It also requested the Director-General to develop a global strategy on IPC (GSIPC), a global action plan, and a monitoring framework in consultation with Member States and regional economic integration organizations. This Global Strategy on IPC and Monitoring framework is approved now by member states on WHA77. Find the Global strategy here!
Global Framework for Action 2024–2030 for water, sanitation, hygiene, waste and electricity services in all health care facilities
The Framework serves to guide efforts to deliver safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), health care waste management and reliable electricity in all health care facilities. The ultimate aim is to provide quality care for all. The Framework reflects a global consultative process and includes data and recommendations articulated in recent WHO/UNICEF global reports on WASH, waste and electricity in health care facilities. It also provides an operational roadmap for implementing the 2023 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution on WASH, waste and electricity in health care facilities. The target audiences for this Framework include health leaders and programme managers at the global and national levels; policymakers; WASH, waste and energy leaders and technical experts; development partners and finance institutions; and actors and experts on gender equality, disability and social inclusion and climate; and, more generally, civil society. The Framework deals with the WASH, waste and electricity elements of the WHO comprehensive approach to build safe, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable health care facilities. Find the framework here
High Level Ministerial luncheon on WASH in Health care facilities-WHA77
Honourable Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, the Minister of Health in Malawi, hosted a high-level ministerial luncheon on WASH in health care facilities in Geneva on May 30, 2024. The event was attended by representatives from Liberia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, the Republic of Tanzania, The Gambia, and Japan along with partners from SIDA. Discussions at the meeting centered around reviewing outcomes and priority actions related to IPC, WASH, waste management, and electricity provision in health care facilities. Additionally, participants discussed identifying critical linkages to enhance climate resilience and improve services in health care facilities. Find the presentation here!
Does WASH FIT improve water, sanitation, and hygiene and related health impacts in healthcare facilities? A systematic review
This systematic review evaluates whether WASH FIT improves environmental health services or associated health outcomes and impacts. The conducted methodology is a database searches to identify relevant studies and extracted data on study design, healthcare facility characteristics, and inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impacts associated with WASH FIT. The study included 31 studies in the review. Find the study here!
Strategic roundtable on WASH, waste and electricity in health care facilities (Presentations)
The Global Strategic Roundtable on WASH, waste, and electricity in health care facilities brought together key stakeholders to discuss the UN General Assembly Resolution and the WHO/UNICEF 2024-2030 Global Framework for Action. The event focused on integrated implementation, investment, and leadership. Attended by 45 in-person and 25 online participants, the roundtable included representatives from Hungary, Nepal, the Philippines, Tanzania, multi-lateral and global health agencies, donors, NGOs, and civil society. The presentations from the Strategic meeting can be found here!
Budgeting and advocacy to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene in healthcare facilities: a case study in Nepal
Barriers to achieving and sustaining access to water, sanitation, hygiene, waste management (collectively, “WASH”) in healthcare facilities include a supportive policy environment and adequate funding. While guidelines exist for assessing needs and making initial infrastructure improvements, there is little guidance on how to develop budgets and policies to sustain WASH services in the long-term. This research was conducted on costing and advocacy activities in Thakurbaba municipality, Nepal, with the aim of developing a budget and operations and maintenance policy for WASH in healthcare facilities in partnership with the municipal government. The objectives for this study are to (1) describe the process and methods used for costing and advocacy, (2) report the costs to achieve and maintain basic WASH services in the eight healthcare facilities of Thakurbaba municipality, and (3) report the outcomes of advocacy activities and policy development. Find more about the case study here!
A review of health-care waste management policies in the Western Pacific Region
A review was carried out on health-care waste management policies in the Western Pacific Region, encompassing 16 countries and areas with diverse systems and resources. This report presents key findings on policy comprehensiveness in relation to WHO guidance. The review process included examining essential components of the legal framework for health-care waste management in each country. It also sought to identify best practices in disaster and emergency preparedness and to determine whether advanced, environmentally friendly technologies, including low-carbon alternatives, had been adopted as recommended in national policies. Based on the findings, recommendations were made with the aim of enhancing health-care waste management policies, with a specific focus on addressing technical gaps. Find the review here!