WHO helps to improve WASH in Vietnam’s hospital

In support to the Ministry of Health’s commitment to enhance water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and healthcare waste management services, the World Health Organization Representative Office in Vietnam (WHO Vietnam) and Seoul National University (SNU), collaborated with the Vietnam Health Environment Management Agency (VIHEMA) in building a system for rain water harvesting and treatment for drinking in healthcare facilities.
Patients and their family members have started using the WASH-FIT facilities in Ly Nhan district hospital in Ha Nam Province (Photo: WHO)
Patients and their family members have started using the WASH-FIT facilities in Ly Nhan district hospital in Ha Nam Province (Photo: WHO)
A pilot implementation of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene–Facility Improvement Tool (WASH-FIT) under a WHO Vietnam–SNU partnership agreement, the new WASH facility built in Ly Nhan district hospital was officially handed over by WHO Vietnam and SNU to the Ministry of Health during an inauguration ceremony in the northern province of Ha Nam yesterday.
Dr. Nguyen Thi Lien Huong, Director General of VIHEMA expressed appreciation for WHO Vietnam and SNU’s collaboration with the government in moving this project forward as she said, “Having effective WASH facilities in place is fundamental in advancing quality healthcare work, and as such, remains a priority area for the Ministry of Health. The introduction of WASH-FIT in healthcare facilities in the country will greatly contribute in our efforts to achieve the targets set in this area of work.”
With WASH-FIT, healthcare facilities will have an effective tool to improve water, sanitation and hygiene practice for basic medical services provided to healthcare workers and patients.
The Plan for Implementing Green, Clean and Beautiful Health care Facilities guides Vietnam’s implementation of activities improving healthcare facilities, and WASH-FIT is a vital tool in meeting the requirements set by the said action plan.
According to WASH in healthcare facilities: Global baseline report 2019, as of 2016, only 51 percent of healthcare facilities in Vietnam had used an improved water source on premises.

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