By Adodo Osewengie
The WaterAid, an international non-governmental organization has revealed that only about four percent (4%) of the healthcare facilities in Nigeria are privy to access basic healthcare services such as hygiene, sanitation, and potable water.
WaterAid noted that patients’ safety is at risk with a likely increase of hospital-acquired infections if these listed services classified as WASH (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene) are lacking in the country’s healthcare facilities.
The Country Director, WaterAid Nigeria, Ms. Evelyn Mere disclosed this in a consultative meeting with the members of staff of some selected health facilities and the Federal Capital Territory Hospital Management Board in Abuja.
According to Mere, who was represented by the organization’s head of policy, advocacy, and communications, Kolawole Banwo, she noted that this decline in WASH services in our healthcare facilities across the country could lead to poor results in combating Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR), affecting vulnerable health workers, and patients.
“It is, therefore, a crucial element of quality of care expected in any health care facility for effective infection prevention and control.
“According to the World Health Organization, vaccines must be delivered alongside other essential public health measures – including water, sanitation, and hygiene – to ensure a comprehensive and sustainable approach to controlling the spread of the disease.
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“WaterAid Nigeria has been working in other states in Nigeria to ensure water, sanitation, and hygiene are properly integrated as a robust strategy to ensure quality healthcare delivery,” she said.
The Country Director in her statement noted that WaterAid took to the rehabilitation of potable water facilities in one of its concerned states and installations of handwashing points at a strategic location within selected primary healthcare centres to promote hygiene.
“I am glad that we can scale this impact in the FCT and I sincerely thank everyone for being here today. This shows our commitment to actualizing sustainable WASH in health care facilities and delivering quality care to our population.
“I hope that this co-creation meeting brings about sustained improvement in the access levels to water, sanitation, and hygiene within our healthcare facilities.
“This meeting would also serve as an avenue for increasing funds in healthcare facilities, access to hygiene services, and overall behavior change for everyone,” she added.
A representative of the Federal Capital Territory Hospital Management Board, Dr. Aloysius Ebedi, exaggerated that the factors militating against the WASH in healthcare facilities are worrisome.
While commending the WaterAid for the services it has been rendering in the area of providing WASH services in our healthcare facilities, Ebedi noted that the collaboration between the organization and the Hospital Management Board is a welcome development.
According to Ebedi, the importance of handwashing in promoting hygiene to keep one safe from infectious diseases can not be overemphasized.
He further called on all stakeholders to change the narrative of poor hygienic practice while pledging the commitment of the board in ensuring it provides and supports the best health delivery services across the country
