hands4health
Hand hygiene, water quality and sanitation in primary health care facilities and schools not connected to functional water supply systems
Current situation
Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) are central to the ability to maintain hygienic environments and prevent disease transmission in both health care facilities and schools. Proper and frequent hand hygiene is one of the most important measures that can be taken to prevent the transmission of diarrheal diseases, respiratory diseases and (re-)emerging infections.
In 2019, the Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) Global Baseline Report estimated that over 45% of primary health care facilities and 50% of schools in LMICs do not have access to handwashing facilities, basic hygiene and water supply systems. Moreover, administrators and staff of health care facilities and schools often lack the capacity and knowledge to manage WASH services adequately. This holds particularly true in a context where functional water supply is lacking, rendering the provision of adequate WASH services intractable.
Our Vision
To join our experiences and efforts to establish a systemic approach to hand hygiene and WASH in primary health care facilities and schools serving the most vulnerable populations.
Target Population
Off-grid schools and health care facilities with poor WASH services, located in conflict-affected areas, refugee and internally displaced camps, informal settlements and remote rural areas.
10 Partners
NGOs, academia and private sector entities
8 Work Packages
Four-year project timeline: 2021-2024
4 Countries
Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Palestine
Latest news
- Gravit’eau: Strengthening Skills
Terre des Hommes enhances the Capabilities of Gravit’eau Maintenance Teams As part of the hands4health project, a series of trainings was organized by the Terre des Hommes team in Burkina Faso to improve… Read More »Gravit’eau: Strengthening Skills - Gravit’eau : Renforcement des CompétencesTerre des hommes renforce les capacités des équipes de maintenance des stations de lavage des mains Gravit’eau Dans le cadre du projet hands4health une série de formations a été organisée par l’équipe de… Read More »Gravit’eau : Renforcement des Compétences
- Emergency Environmental Health Forum 2024
Showcasing the h4h systemic approach The Emergency Environmental Health Forum (EEHF) is an international research and learning event aimed at water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) implementers, researchers, donors and policymakers. The event provides… Read More »Emergency Environmental Health Forum 2024 - World Hand Hygiene Day 2024
Sharing knowledge about hand hygiene saves lives! On May 5th, the world celebrates World Hand Hygiene Day (WHHD) under the annual campaign “SAVE LIVES – Clean your hands” of the World Health Organisation… Read More »World Hand Hygiene Day 2024
Consortium partners
Funding
The hands4health initiative is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), through a project and programme contribution of CHF 4’700’000. More information is available here.