hands4health
Hand hygiene, water quality and sanitation in primary health care facilities and schools not connected to functional water supply systems
Current situation
Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) are central to the ability to maintain hygienic environments and prevent disease transmission in both health care facilities and schools. Proper and frequent hand hygiene is one of the most important measures that can be taken to prevent the transmission of diarrheal diseases, respiratory diseases and (re-)emerging infections.
In 2019, the Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) Global Baseline Report estimated that over 45% of primary health care facilities and 50% of schools in LMICs do not have access to handwashing facilities, basic hygiene and water supply systems. Moreover, administrators and staff of health care facilities and schools often lack the capacity and knowledge to manage WASH services adequately. This holds particularly true in a context where functional water supply is lacking, rendering the provision of adequate WASH services intractable.
Our Vision
To join our experiences and efforts to establish a systemic approach to hand hygiene and WASH in primary health care facilities and schools serving the most vulnerable populations.
Target Population
Off-grid schools and health care facilities with poor WASH services, located in conflict-affected areas, refugee and internally displaced camps, informal settlements and remote rural areas.
10 Partners
NGOs, academia and private sector entities
8 Work Packages
Four-year project timeline: 2021-2024
4 Countries
Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Palestine
Latest news
- hands4health protocol paper published
Disseminating the hands4health approach The hands4health protocol paper entitled “Assessing the Effectiveness of a Multicomponent Intervention on Hand Hygiene and Well-Being in Primary Health Care Centers and Schools Lacking Functional Water Supply in… Read More »hands4health protocol paper published - Innovation au Coeur de la Journée Mondiale de l’Eau
Terre des hommes et la Révolution du ‘Gravit’eau’ à Bamako En cette Journée mondiale de l’eau, Bamako s’est illuminée d’échanges dynamiques et de démonstrations innovantes. Sous l’égide du Président de la transition, Terre… Read More »Innovation au Coeur de la Journée Mondiale de l’Eau - World Water Day 2024
The hands4health intervention focuses on conflict-affected areas in Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Palestine/West Bank. The consortium is committed to improving the water, sanitation and hygiene systems in primary schools and health care… Read More »World Water Day 2024 - Journée mondiale de l’eau 2024L’intervention de hands4health se concentre sur les zones touchées par les conflits au Mali, au Burkina Faso, au Nigeria et en Palestine/ Cisjordanie. Le consortium s’engage à améliorer les systèmes d’eau, d’assainissement et… Read More »Journée mondiale de l’eau 2024
Consortium partners
Funding
The hands4health initiative is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), through a project and programme contribution of CHF 4’700’000. More information is available here.