LIBERIA: WaterAid, Shalom Train 25 Health Workers in WASH
By: WASH R&E “Media” Network – Since the Ebola outbreak and its devastating effects, especially on medical practitioners, the Government of Liberia and partners deemed it appropriate to put in place Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Protocols for health facilities.
Cross section of participants
In a bid to buttress this effort, the British Charity, WaterAid Liberia and Sierra Leone in partnership with the Ministry of Health in 2015 launched “Healthy Start”, showcasing the devastating impact that a lack of safe water and sanitation has on children in developing countries.
In continuation of its Healthy Start Program, WaterAid in collaboration with its local partner “SHALOM” and the Ministry of Health have trained about twenty-five Health workers from various health centers in Monrovia in basic WASH protocols for health facilities.
Health Works at the 3-day workshop
The training according to Lusu Gibson, Head of Healthy Start Program at Shalom, the participants were taught basic concept in WASH in health centers.
Madam Gibson said the workshop provided participants insight to sanitation, safe water and hygiene.
Speaking at the end of the workshop, the WASH Coordinator at the Ministry of Health says the training of medical practitioners about WASH is key in the fight against diseases.
Health Workers at the end of the workshop and a staff of Shalom, Lusu Gibson (L)
Wataku Kortimai said the WASH package designed by the Government of Liberia and partners is aimed at providing basic information about water, sanitation and hygiene to health workers.
Mr. Kortimai named environmental cleaning and decontamination, water supply and storage facility, sanitation and hygiene as some of the topics covered during the workshop.
For some of the participants, the workshop was an eye opener for them and their institutions.
The participants indicated that what they learnt from the 3-day training would be shared with their colleagues at their various work places.
Health workers listening attentively during one of the training sessions
They indicated that one of the major challenges faced by them is the disposal of hazardous waste from their respective institutions.
Healthy Start is WaterAid’s 4-year Advocacy Priority (2015-2019) on improving the health and nutrition of newborn babies and children.
WaterAid says one in four newborn deaths in Liberia could be prevented with safe water, sanitation and clean hands.
According to the 2013 Liberia Demography and Health Survey, infant mortality rate in Liberia is 54 deaths per 1,000 live births and the under-five mortality is 94 deaths per 1,000 live births. Thus, one in every 10 Liberian children dies before reaching age five.
