A report from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF warned that globally, half of the health facilities in the world lack basic hygiene services, putting almost 4 billion people at risk of infection. Specifically, they do not have water, soap or hand sanitizer in services where they receive patients.
According to the work, which is presented in Stockholm in accordance with World Water Week, some 3.85 billion people use these facilities, including 688 million people who receive care in places without any toilet service.
The report on progress made in the period 2000–2021 on water, sanitation and hygiene in health facilities, which focuses especially on its usefulness in preventing and controlling infections, establishes for the first time references applicable to everyone about hygiene services. “Thanks to the fact that, on this occasion, the number of countries that have provided data on essential elements of water, sanitation and hygiene services in their hospitals and health facilities has been higher than in previous reports, it has been possible to establish these references relating to access at health care points and toilets,” indicated a WHO statement.
The study details that 68% of health centers have hygienic facilities at the points of care and 65% have sinks with soap and water in the health services. However, only 51% have both, while 9% of the world’s healthcare facilities have neither.
The report adds that the facilities with the worst conditions are those in sub-Saharan Africa, where only 37% have sinks with soap and water in the toilets. And it highlights that in less developed countries, only 53% of facilities have drinking water on site.
And he concluded that around 3% of health facilities in urban areas and 11% in rural areas around the world lack water service.
Dr Maria Neira, Director of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health at WHO, said: “The existence of hygiene facilities and practices in health facilities is non-negotiable. It is essential to improve them for preparation and prevention against epidemics and recovery after them, but we will not be able to move forward if investments are not increased in basic measures such as uncontaminated water, clean toilets and risk-free management of wastewater. waste from health care activities.
In turn, Kelly Ann Naylor, Director of the Program Group on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene and Climate and on Environment, Energy and Disaster Risk Reduction at UNICEF, said: “If health workers do not have access to services of hygiene, it cannot be said that health care is provided to the users of these establishments. Hospitals and clinics that lack uncontaminated water and basic hygiene and sanitation services can be a death trap for pregnant women, newborns and children. Every year, about 670,000 newborns die from infections. “It is an enormous tragedy, especially considering that these deaths can be prevented.”
The report indicates that contaminated environments and hands are an important source of transmission of pathogens and generation of resistance to antimicrobials in health facilities. To improve infection control and prevention programs, it is essential to provide more access to points to wash hands with soap and water and sanitize the environment. These are essential measures in order to provide quality care, especially for safe delivery.
