MANILA, Philippines – A joint report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) noted that three in 10 health care facilities in the Philippines have no access to clean toilets.
The WHO-UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) report released on April 4, 2019, noted that 23 percent of the country’s health facilities have unclean toilets while four percent have no toilets at all.
According to WHO, these services are very important “in preventing infections, reducing the spread of antimicrobial resistance and providing quality care, particularly for safe childbirth” and not having such will imperil the safety of the public.
“Healthcare facilities won’t be able to provide quality care to people if there is no safe water, toilet or hand washing facility,” said WHO representative in the Philippines Dr. Gundo Weiler.
The report cited the recent water shortage in Metro Manila which highlighted the need for long-term solutions to water, sanitation and hygiene in health care facilities in the country.
Five major hospitals in Metro Manila were adversely affected by water shortage in March this year.
These hospitals were Rizal Medical Center in Pasig City; National Center for Mental Health in Mandaluyong City; and National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Children’s Medical Center and Quirino Memorial Medical Center, all in Quezon City.
“The Philippines must ensure that safe WASH facilities are available and accessible to ensure health for all Filipinos,” Wieler added.
On the program Get It Straight with Daniel Razon on Wednesday (April 24), Health Secretary Francisco Duque III agreed that the lack of water supply must be prioritized especially as it is a crucial element to sanitation and hygiene.
He also noted that local government units should be mandated to ensure that public facilities in their areas are fully equipped with clean and proper hygiene facilities.
“Kinakailangan tugunan muna ang kakulangan sa tubig, iyong sufficient, adequate supply of water. Iyan po ang mahalaga, siguraduhin muna higit sa lahat,” he said.
(The lack of sufficient and adequate water supply should be addressed first. It’s the most important thing that should be secured first.)
“Saka natin pag-usapan, dapat siguro i-penalize natin iyong mga local government units na sila ang dapat maniguro na may sapat na palikuran at sapat na tubig at para makamit natin ang kagustuhan nating ito ay maging bahagi ng Universal Health Care (program),” he added.
(Then we can discuss next, maybe [recommend] the penalizing of local government units as they are the ones responsible in ensuring sufficient toilet facilities and water supply to achieve our goals and make it part of the Universal Health Care (program).) – Marje Pelayo
The post 3 in 10 health facilities in PH lack clean toilets – WHO appeared first on UNTV News.