{"id":50062,"date":"2019-07-17T16:17:01","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T10:47:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogadmin.forumias.com\/?page_id=50062"},"modified":"2019-07-17T16:21:56","modified_gmt":"2019-07-17T10:51:56","slug":"answered-adequate-water-sanitation-and-hygiene-wash-amenities-including-waste-management-and-environmental-cleaning-services-are-critical-to-safe-functioning-of-health-facilities","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/answered-adequate-water-sanitation-and-hygiene-wash-amenities-including-waste-management-and-environmental-cleaning-services-are-critical-to-safe-functioning-of-health-facilities\/","title":{"rendered":"[Answered] \u201cAdequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) amenities, including waste management and environmental cleaning services, are critical to safe functioning of health facilities.\u201d Comment. Discuss what should be done to improve health facilities?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Demand of the question<\/strong>
Introduction. <\/strong>Contextual introduction.
Body. <\/strong>Importance of WASH. How to improve health facilities?
Conclusion. <\/strong>Way forward. <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n

Healthcare facilities include primary, secondary, tertiary healthcare. A healthcare facility poor in WASH services i.e Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene lead to threat of infections and prevention of disease is severely compromised. Adequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) amenities, including waste management and environmental cleaning services, are critical to their safe functioning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why WASH (Water, Sanitation and\nHygiene) is Important?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Reduce incidence of diseases<\/strong>: There\nis clear evidence that shows that hygienic behaviour, in particular\nhand-washing with soap can significantly reduce the incidence of diseases like diarrhoea,\nwhich is the second leading cause of death amongst children under five years\nold. <\/li>
  2. Prevent spreading of disease<\/strong>: Good\nhand-washing practices reduce the spread of many diseases. It prevent spreading\nof microbes causing diseases.<\/li>
  3. Risk to patients and health workers<\/strong>:\nPoor hygiene, sanitation put patients and health workers at risk of getting\nsick from avoidable infections. Poor WASH facilities lead to increased chances\nof infection at health facilities.<\/li>
  4. Antimicrobial Resistance<\/strong>: Lack of\nWASH facilities also results in unnecessary use of antibiotics, thereby\nspreading antimicrobial resistance. Poor Hygiene lead to microbes getting\nadapted. Flush of antibiotic in water lead to development of microbial\nresistance.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    How to improve health facilities?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Develop National standards and\naccountability mechanisms<\/strong>: Health authorities should establish national\nstandards and accountability mechanisms. Lack of quality data limits\nauthorities\u2019 understanding of the problem. A national road-map is needed to\nimprove WASH services in healthcare facilities. <\/li>
    2. Behavioural Change and culture of\ncleanliness<\/strong>: Health authorities should work towards developing a\nculture of cleanliness and safety in all healthcare facilities. Swachh\nBharat Scheme<\/strong> should give special focus on healthcare facilities. A\nbehaviour change must be instilled among community towards WASH and it\u2019s\nbenefits.<\/li>
    3. Ensure timely data collection<\/strong>: Authorities\nshould ensure that collection of data on key WASH indicators should be done on\ntime. It will accelerate progress by promoting continued action and\naccountability. <\/li>
    4. Conduct situation analysis and assessment<\/strong>–\nAn analysis to examine health and WASH policies, governance structures, and\nfunding is needed. An assessment is necessary for updated figures on WASH\ncoverage and compliance in health facilities. Together, these documents form\nthe basis for prioritising policies and mobilising resources.<\/li>
    5. Improve and maintain infrastructure-<\/strong>\nHealth facilities\u2019 infrastructure should be improved to meet national standards.\nIt should be accompanied by various policies inputs.<\/li>
    6. Develop health workforce<\/strong>– All\nworkers engaged in the health system, from doctors, to nurses, midwives, and\ncleaners should have access to up-to-date information on WASH and infection\nprevention and control practices during pre-service training and as part of\nregular professional development.<\/li>
    7. Engage communities<\/strong>– Community\nmembers play an important role in using and providing feedback on health\nservices. They must be included in the development of WASH policies and in the\nregular review of WASH coverage and implementation data.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n