HEALTH CARE FACILITIESWASH in

for better health care services

In 2015, for the first time, WHO and UNICEF assessed the status of WASH in health care facilities in low- and middle-income countries1. With a significant proportion of facilities without any services at all, WHO, UNICEF and partners committed to address the situation2, with the aim of achieving universal access in all facilities, in all settings, by 2030.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Health Care Facilities

Global Action Plan

WASH AND THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Under SDG Goal 6 (safely managed water and sanitation), access to WASH in health care facilities will be regularly tracked and reported on for the first time, providing important evidence for action. Furthermore, achieving SDG 3 (health) depends on sustainable WASH services which are supported by cross-sectoral collaboration with Goal 7 (affordable and clean energy) and Goal 13 (climate action). The Global Action Plan on WASH in health care facilities is working to address this through five change objectives.

1 WHO/UNICEF, 2015, Water, sanitation, and hygiene in health care facilities: status in low and middle-income countries and way forward. Report. http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/publications/wash-health-carefacilities/en/

2 WHO/UNICEF, 2015. Water, sanitation and hygiene in health care facilities: urgent needs and actions. Meeting Report. http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/en/

CO 1

WASH in health care facilities is prioritized as a necessary input to achieving all global and national health goals especially those linked to Universal Health Coverage, Maternal & Child Health and Antimicrobial Resistance. Key decision makers, health facility staff and users champion WASH in health care facilities.

CO 2All countries have national standards and policies on WASH in health care facilities and dedicated improving and maintaining services, and successful scale up is documented.

CO 3 Global and national monitoring efforts include harmonizing core and extended indicators to track WASH in health care facilities.

CO 4The existing evidence base is reviewed and strengthened to catalyze advocacy messages and improve implementation of WASH in health care facilities.

CO 5 Risk-based facility plans are implemented and support continuous WASH improvements, training and behavior of staff.

5 Change ObjectivesWASH in health care facility standards and measures are embedded in at least 5 major health

strategies and frameworks by 2017; and ALL major frameworks by 2020.

National standards for WASH in health care facilities exist and are implemented in 30 countries by 2017; 40 countries by 2018; and 60 countries by 2020.

SDG indicators for WASH in health care facilities are used and reported on in all national service delivery assessments and national monitoring systems by 2020.

Systematic reviews of WASH in HCF and health impacts and operational evidence on “what works” published in 2018.

Water and Sanitation for Health Facility Improvement Tool (WASH FIT) rolled out and outcomes documented in 10 countries by 2018 and 30 countries by 2020.

Targets

Multiple benefits of adequate WASH in health care facilities

Health and Safety

Disease prevention and

treatment

Staff morale and

performance

People centered care

Community WASH

Health care costs

Climate change

and disaster resilience

WA S H *

Reduced health care associated infectionsReduced anti-microbial resistance Improved occupational health and safety

Health staff model good hygiene behaviour; improved

hygiene practices at home

More efficient services

Disease/deaths averted

Facilities better prepared to continue

to provide WASH in disasters, including

climate-related events

*WASH in health care facilities includes water supply, sanitation, hygiene and health care waste management

Improved outbreak prevention and control (e.g. cholera, Ebola)Improved diarrheal disease prevention and control

Improved satisfaction and ability to provide safe care

Increased uptake of services, e.g. facility births, vaccinations

The WASH in health care facilities knowledge portal (www.washinhcf.org) contains further information on the task teams’ activities, country case studies, news, upcoming events, publications and resources.

Contact washinhcf@who.int to share information about WASH in health care facilities on the knowledge portal.

Get involved and contribute to an important global movement.

Four task teams are leading the Global Action Plan and Activities.

2030

On-going: adaptation of tools and documentation of solutions in different

health care settings

Universal access to WASH in health care

facilities by 2030

On-going: Health and WASH experts advocating for WASH

in health care facilities

First set of risk assessment/facility improvement tools

tested

Strategic review and research

meeting Water and Sanitation

Health Facility Improvement Tool

launched

Global learning event and publishing of action briefs

Core and expanded indicators finalised

Launch website www.washinhcf.org

Global action plan

launched and task teams

initiated

First ever global review of WASH in health care facilities

ADVOCACY AND POLICY MONITORING EVIDENCE AND RESEARCH STANDARDS AND FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS

Change Objective 1 Change Objective 2 Change Objective 3 Change Objective 4 Change Objective 5

Aim: To advocate for global and national action to improve WASH in health care facilities and support leaders dedicated to this effort.

Aim: To develop, test and revise core and expanded indicators to track WASH in health care facilities.

Aim: To draw on and extend the evidence base to support increased investments, quality improvements and advocacy efforts.

Aim: To develop and implement a suite of field-tested tools, training and reference materials for a variety of facilities and settings.

Partners: Canada Global Affairs, UK Department for International Development (DFID), Emory University, Global Health Council, Hilton Foundation, Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH), Infection Control African Network (ICAN), IRC WASH, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Médicins Sans Frontières (MSF), SoapBox Collaborative, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG), Terre des Hommes, United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Development Fund (UNDP), University of East Anglia, USAID, US Centers for Disease Control (US CDC), WASH Advocates, WaterAid, Water Institute-University of North Carolina (UNC), Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC), World Bank, World Health Organization (WHO), World Vision.

Partners are working closely with Minsitries of Health, Water and Environment from over thirty countries.

Health priorities represented: Health systems, Infection prevention and control (IPC), Antimicrobial resistance, Maternal and newborn health (MNCH), Outbreaks and emergencies, quality Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

On-going: Targeted WASH activities at global health

events

Joint Monitoring Programme SDG report

produced

Global Learning Laboratory WASH

Pod launched

2018201720162015

Systematic review of health impacts of poor WASH services

in health care facilities published