Learning Note: Improving water, sanitation and hygiene in primary care health facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia

Overview

Improved water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) and health care waste management services in health care facilities (HCFs) are pivotal to ensure infection prevention and control (IPC) practices. Availability, accessibility, acceptability of WASH services in HCF is a fundamental aspect to assure the human right and dignity of patients, visitors, and health workers. However, despite the existing efforts from the government, there is still a need to build capacity and sustain WASH programs in health care facilities (HCFs) settings, particularly in Primary Health Care Centres (Puskesmas) which are the first level health delivery centre. Through the UNICEF/WHO Water and Sanitation for Health Facility Improvement Tools (WASH FIT) approach, UNICEF and WHO have joined together to assist the government in strengthening Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Puskesmas.

This note profiles learning from an effort to improve essential WASH services in Puskesmas during the COVID-19 pandemic through the WASH FIT implementation. We present the approach to adopt the tool in Indonesia, key lessons learned and recommendations to inform the WASH FIT implementation and scaling-up strategies.

WHO’s work on WASH FIT  has been made possible through the contribution of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).