Program Overview

United Nations University

Institute for Water, Environment and Health

The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) offers a course on WASH in Healthcare Facilities, denoted as INWEH-15.

Course Overview

The course addresses the critical issue of limited water, sanitation, hygiene, waste management, and cleaning (WASH) in healthcare facilities, which significantly affects the quality of care. Globally, many healthcare facilities lack basic water services, sanitation services, handwashing facilities, and systems to segregate waste, leading to a higher risk of infection and increased use of antibiotics.

Course Objectives

The course aims to provide an overview of technical evidence and guidance for supporting better WASH in healthcare facilities to enhance patient health outcomes, with a focus on the needs of people living with HIV (PLHIV) accessing care in Sub-Saharan Africa, including maternal, neonatal, and child health (MNCH) services.

What You Will Learn

After completing the course, participants will be able to:

• Explain WASH measures used to assess quality of service.
• Understand, support, and advocate for the importance of WASH in quality health care, especially for vulnerable populations, including people accessing HIV or MNCH services.
• Demonstrate knowledge of WASH sector terms and concepts, such as the WASH servicing standards, climate resilience, and environmental sustainability.
• Utilize tools and resources to conduct a baseline analysis of and improve WASH and quality of care in health care facilities.

Target Audience

This introductory course is developed for healthcare professionals, peer supporters, and community workers interested in improving WASH and environmental sanitation in healthcare facilities.

Course Details

• Course Number: INWEH-15
• Course Start: April 1, 2022
• Course End: April 30, 2023
• Duration: 10:00
• Certificate: No
• Language: English

Course Developers

The course was developed by:

• Lina Taing, Senior Researcher: Water and Health, United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health
• Francois Daudelin, Consultant, United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health

The course builds upon WHO's WASHFIT course with additional contributions from Malvika Agarwal (UNU-INWEH Water and Health Intern) and Paediatric-Adolescent Treatment Africa (PATA).