ZCZC
BSS-13
WASH-REDUCTION-DEATH
WASH practices provided in health care centers reduce death upto 25pc
DHAKA, Dec 29, 2017 (BSS) – Improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) related practices in health service providing outlets can reduce the risk of disease and death of infants and mothers by up to 25 per cent.
Recently published 4th Health and Nutrition Sector Plan (HNSP) revealed the information with outlining the importance of improving the quality of care through provision of WASH services at all levels of health care facilities across the country.
“It is right time to reflect on quality of services at each health clinics and hospitals of the country. The quality is not only of the service delivery by doctors and nurses, but the quality of our water supply, sanitation, hygiene and waste management in our health facilities are also important,” Minister for Health and Family Welfare Mohammed Nasim told BSS.
Emphasizing the development of national strategy and joint action plan, the minister also said, “We need to review our available protocol, guidelines, provisions and work towards quality WASH services in health care settings so that we all benefit from dignified health care services and would be able to reduce the death by practicing the WASH practice”.
“Riding on the successes that the country has already achieved, it is important to ensure safe water and sanitation facilities for patients,” Director General of DGHS Professor Dr Abul Kalam Azad told BSS.
“Lack of WASH provision in healthcare facilities also increase the risk of healthcare acquired infections and undermine national and global efforts to improve maternal, neonatal and child health,” Dr ASM Alamgir, senior scientific officer of IEDCR, told the national news agency.
Experts and policy makers also urged for specific policy guideline to upgrade the WASH system in the healthcare facilities which would help the country to achieve the sustainable development goal (SDG) targets for reducing maternal and newborn deaths.
They emphasized to create awareness among people and develop the national strategy and action plan for WASH in health care facilities.
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