Strengthening WASH and IPC as major cornerstones of public health

Nearly 50 health workers from various areas in Northern Malaita Province in Solomon Islands took part in a series of workshops that aimed to underscore and reinforce the importance of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and infection prevention and control (IPC), especially in healthcare facilities.

Participants expressed appreciation for the workshop. WHO/R. Serrano

Spearheaded by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) with support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the workshops served as a valuable reminder to participants of their crucial role as implementers and promoters of WASH and IPC in healthcare facilities and ensure that these are consistently observed.

In a courtesy visit to Dr David Danitofea, Provincial Health Director of Malaita Province, Mrs Ethel Mapulo, Director of Environmental Health, MHMS, said of the workshop: "It is great that community engagement was identified by various groups to ensure the sustainability of health facilities and ensure that health workers are enforcing at least the minimum WASH and IPC standards. We would like to thank KOICA and WHO for reaching out and helping to ensure the running of this workshop."

The team with Malaita Provincial Health Director Dr David Danitofea and Environmental Health Director Mrs Ethel Mapolu. WHO/R. Serrano

"The WASH and IPC training form a critical part of the 8 steps to improve WASH in healthcare facilities and build capacity of health service staff to better understand their role in improving WASH services," said Mr Boniswa Dladla, WHO Technical Officer for WASH and Environmental Health. "The community module developed for this training was informed by the facility assessment which showed the impact that effective community engagement plays in the "health" of a healthcare facility," he added.

Improving knowledge, bringing lessons forward

May Kereseka, a clinical nurse and midwife in Malu'u Area Health Clinic said the workshop was very important for her as it helped improve her knowledge on WASH and IPC, particularly since ensuring healthy baby deliveries and immunization are critical to her work. "The knowledge that I gained here, I will surely apply when I go back to my clinic. I think these workshops need to happen often, if possible, to refresh our knowledge," said May.

She added that the workshop made her realize that there's a lot more that needs to be done in her clinic. In fact, she said they already have plans in their clinic and will meet with plumbers and carpenters to address the infrastructure challenges that they face in their clinic, such as leaky faucets, and broken toilets.

Mrs Ethel Mapolu underscored the vital role of health workers to enforce at least the minimum WASH and IPC standards. WHO/R. Serrano

For Lee Liosulia, a registered nurse also in Malu'u Area Health Clinic, he said that the segregation of waste is one of the many things that he'll take back with him. "Before joining Malu'u, the clinic where I worked in put every waste into one container, including medical waste. But from what I learned in this workshop, waste should be properly segregated," said Lee.

He added that practicing WASH and IPC are very important for him as a nurse. "These guide me in my workplace and protect my patients and I from getting infected and spreading infection," said Lee, who is eager to share the lessons he learnt from the workshop with his colleagues.

WASH and IPC are major backbones of public health. WHO/R. Serrano

Assessing data quality

KOICA and WHO also supported the Government by conducting data quality assessment activities. This is in line with Solomon Islands' digital health journey, which aims to leverage the power of digital technology to transform the country's health system and improve people's health and well-being.

Data quality assessment being conducted in Fauabu Rural Health Centre. WHO/R. Serrano

Three rural health centers: Talakali, Fauabu, and Gwauno'oa were visited by WHO and representatives from the MHMS. Here, checks were done on whether mothers received antenatal and postnatal care, whether there is sufficient power for cold chain storage, and if patients were checked for HIV/syphilis mother-to-child transmission, among others.

WHO thanks KOICA for their contributions in making this activity possible.