WASH in Heath Care Facilities: UNICEF scoping study in Eastern and Southern Africa

The literature has long established the existing link between safe water for hygiene and handwashing in health facilities and consequent reduction in disease transmission. However, despite the critical role that Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) plays in health care, access to these services globally remains alarmingly poor.

As part of its Global WASH strategy (2016-2030), UNICEF has committed to working with the World Health Organisation and ministries of health to formulate, promote and support the adequate provision of WASH services in health care facilities, with a focus on those that provide maternal and newborn support.

With this in mind, the UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office conducted a scoping study on WASH services across the region, with the aim to assess the status of the enabling environment for WASH services in health facilities, identify existing gaps, and explore new avenues to enhance programming. The study, presented in this report, consisted of an online survey completed through consultations with different stakeholders, followed by visits to health care facilities in selected countries in the region.