Update: Progress on WASH in health care facilities 2000-2021

In March 2018, the United Nations Secretary-General launched a global call to action for WASH in all health care facilities, noting that health care facilities are essential tools in reducing disease, and that without basic WASH services, health care facilities can instead contribute to more infections, prolonged hospital stays and preventable deaths, including of mothers and babies.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), through the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (JMP) release progress updates on WASH in households, WASH in schools and WASH in health care facilities every two years. 

This 2022 update presents national, regional and global estimates for WASH in health care facilities up to the year 2021, with a special focus on the linkages between WASH and infection prevention and control (IPC).