Evaluation of water, sanitation and hygiene status of COVID-19 healthcare facilities in Ghana using the WASH FIT approach
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Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Creative Commons
Abstract
Access to improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) is essential for the delivery of high-quality
care in healthcare facilities and the prevention of hospital-acquired infections such as the
transmission of the SARS-CoV-2. In addition, unimpeded access to WASH facilities in coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19) treatment centres (TCs) is central in facilitating compliance with infection
prevention and control protocols. However, data for the WASH status of COVID-19 TCs in Ghana are
limited. We evaluated the WASH status of seven COVID-19 TCs in Ghana using the WHO/UNICEF
water and sanitation for health facility improvement tool (WASH FIT). The water domain had the
highest number of indicators meeting standards with an average percentage score of 90.5% (range:
66.7–100%) across the seven TCs, followed by management (66.9%) and hygiene (58.7%). The TCs
performed poorly in the sanitation and healthcare waste domain, with an average percentage score
of 44.6% (range: 22.2–75%). These findings highlight the challenges being faced by COVID-19 TCs in
implementing WASH services. Specific WASH interventions are urgently required to strengthen WASH
services in the COVID-19 TCs. This should precede the prioritisation of resources to WASH
infrastructure in the treatment facilities coupled with actions that involve all stakeholders.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
COVID-19, Ghana, healthcare facilities, healthcare quality and safety, infection prevention and control, WASH