WASH in healthcare facilities: lessons learned from Bangladesh and Ghana

Our learning note highlights the lessons learned from our work to strengthen the integration of water, sanitation and hygiene in healthcare facilities in Ghana and Bangladesh

During the HSBC Water Programme, WaterAid country programmes worked with partners to strengthen the integration of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in healthcare facilities (HCF). This note draws out the things we have learned from two countries – Bangladesh and Ghana – in strengthening the systems for improved and sustainable WASH in HCF.  To demonstrate how such services could be improved, WaterAid and its partners sought to focus on:

• Inclusive and improved services 
• Health and hygiene behaviour change
• Building the capacity of healthcare workers, community members and government officials
• Planning and financing for sustained functionality
• Accountability
• Stakeholder collaboration

Top image: A woman washing her hands at the Gadipur health complex in Paikgachha, Bangladesh.