Using the Water and Sanitation for Health Facility Improvement Tool (WASH FIT) in Zimbabwe: A Cross-Sectional Study of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Services in 50 COVID-19 Isolation Facilities

Mitsuaki Hirai, Victor Nyamandi, Charles Siachema, Nesbert Shirihuru, Lovemore Dhoba, Alison Baggen, Trevor Kanyowa, John Mwenda, Lilian Dodzo, Portia Manangazira, Musiwarwo Chirume, Marc Overmars, Yuhei Honda, Ajay Chouhan, Boniface Nzara, Placidia Vavirai, Zvanaka Sithole, Paul Ngwakum, Shelly Chitsungo and Aidan A. Cronin
Additional contact information
Mitsuaki Hirai: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Harare, Zimbabwe
Victor Nyamandi: Ministry of Health and Child Care, Government of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
Charles Siachema: Ministry of Health and Child Care, Government of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
Nesbert Shirihuru: Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Settlement, Government of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
Lovemore Dhoba: Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Settlement, Government of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
Alison Baggen: Action Contre la Faim, Harare, Zimbabwe
Trevor Kanyowa: World Health Organization, Harare, Zimbabwe
John Mwenda: Ministry of Health and Child Care, Government of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
Lilian Dodzo: Ministry of Health and Child Care, Government of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
Portia Manangazira: Ministry of Health and Child Care, Government of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
Musiwarwo Chirume: Ministry of Health and Child Care, Government of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
Marc Overmars: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Harare, Zimbabwe
Yuhei Honda: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Harare, Zimbabwe
Ajay Chouhan: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Harare, Zimbabwe
Boniface Nzara: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Harare, Zimbabwe
Placidia Vavirai: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Harare, Zimbabwe
Zvanaka Sithole: World Health Organization, Harare, Zimbabwe
Paul Ngwakum: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Harare, Zimbabwe
Shelly Chitsungo: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Harare, Zimbabwe
Aidan A. Cronin: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), New York, NY 10017, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-11

Abstract: The availability of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services is a key prerequisite for quality care and infection prevention and control in health care facilities (HCFs). In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance and urgency of enhancing WASH coverage to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission and other healthcare-associated infections. As a part of COVID-19 preparedness and response interventions, the Government of Zimbabwe, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and civil society organizations conducted WASH assessments in 50 HCFs designated as COVID-19 isolation facilities. Assessments were based on the Water and Sanitation for Health Facility Improvement Tool (WASH FIT), a multi-step framework to inform the continuous monitoring and improvement of WASH services. The WASH FIT assessments revealed that one in four HCFs did not have adequate services across the domains of water, sanitation, health care waste, hand hygiene, facility environment, cleanliness and disinfection, and management. The sanitation domain had the largest proportion of health care facilities with poor service coverage (42%). Some of the recommendations from this assessment include the provision of sufficient water for all users, Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM)- and disability-friendly sanitation facilities, handwashing facilities, waste collection services, energy for incineration or waste treatment facilities, cleaning supplies, and financial resources for HCFs. WASH FIT may be a useful tool to inform WASH interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Keywords: water; sanitation; hygiene; health care waste management; infection prevention and control; WASH; health care facility (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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