2 billion depend on health facilities without water
GENEVA, December 15, 2020 Around 1.8 billion people are at heightened risk of Covid-19 and other diseases because they use or work in health care facilities without basic water services, warn WHO and Unicef. “Working in a health care facility without water, sanitation and hygiene is akin to sending nurses and doctors to work without personal protective equipment,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Water supply, sanitation and hygiene in health care facilities are fundamental to stopping COVID-19. But there are still major gaps to overcome, particularly in least developed countries.” The report, Fundamentals first: Universal water, sanitation, and hygiene services in health care facilities for safe, quality care, comes as Covid-19 is exposing key vulnerabilities within health systems, including inadequate infection prevention and control.
Almost 2 billion people without basic water services
GENEVA, December 14, 2020 Around 1.8 billion people are at heightened risk of Covid-19 and other diseases because they use or work in health care facilities without basic water services, warn Who and Unicef. “Working in a health care facility without water, sanitation and hygiene is akin to sending nurses and doctors to work without personal protective equipment” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Who Director-General. “Water supply, sanitation and hygiene in health care facilities are fundamental to stopping Covid-19. But there are still major gaps to overcome, particularly in least developed countries.” The report, Global progress report on Wash in health care facilities: fundamentals first, comes as Covid-19 is exposing key vulnerabilities within health systems, including inadequate infection prevention and control.