Rotarians - looking for real impact? Get involved in WASH in Health Care Facilities - reduce infections, prevent avoidable deaths!

Covid persists. Ebola emerges again. Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI) threaten thousands—all indicate lack of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in our hospitals and healthcare facilities.

A recent (August 2022) report from the World Health Organization and UNICEF states:

·      850 million people use health care facilities with no water!

·      780 million use hospitals and clinics with no toilets or latrines.

·      A quarter of all health care facilities have no basic water service.

·      1 in 3 health care facilities lack handwashing facilities at the point of care—in the delivery room or surgery-depriving 385 billion people of basic hygiene service!.

The consequences are staggering:

·      About 1 in 10 patients get infections in hospital, leading to severe illness or death.

·      300,000 maternal deaths a year result from infections acquired in a healthcare facility

·      About 600,000 infants die each year from infections that can be prevented by using soap and water.

The World Health Assembly is calling for action:

 

Every health care facility (HCF) to have WASH services by 2030!

A survey of 1.1 million women from 114 countries on healthcare tells us that Water and Sanitation are second only to respectful care.  They want clean toilets in maternity wards. They want soap and water to wash themselves and their babies after birth.’ 

As people of action, Rotary members can create awareness of WASH in healthcare facilities. We can mobilize resources and partners to tackle those needs.

Rotary clubs are the heart of our communities. We can lead our communities to safe water, sanitation and hygiene in healthcare facilities. 

Where to start?

1.    Rotarians in developing countries: visit your local healthcare facility. Meet the senior administrator, talk to the nurses and medical staff, inspect the wards, especially maternity and birthing wards, look at the toilets, check for handwashing facilities—are soap and water readily accessible.

In short, size up the situation. Would you want a loved one to be a patient there?

2.Then - mobilize the community. Facilitate a meeting of all stakeholders-community leaders, healthcare administrators and workers (especially the women), local health authorities, water and sanitation officials, recent patients and medical professionals.

Listen to what they have to say—help the community to agree on goals, priorities and the persons to lead transformation to a safe healthy environment.

3.Bring the key players together, help them to plan and implement change - safe water supply, toilets, handwashing, organization and capacity building, training, funding and measuring progress.

You are not alone. Ambassadors of WASH-RAG (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Rotary Action Group) are ready to help you. So are members of the Rotary Fellowship of Healthcare Professionals.  Call on the Area of Focus Managers and the Cadre of Technical Advisers. The resources you need for a sustainable project are a phone-call away.

Ron Denham, Chair Emeritus

WASH Rotary Action Group

ron.denham1021@gmail.com