3 in 10 PH health facilities ‘lack access’ to clean toilets – study

MANILA, Philippines — Three in 10 health facilities in the Philippines “lack access” to clean toilets, a report of the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) revealed.

WHO and UNICEF in a joint statement on Thursday even noted that, “23% of the health care facilities have unclean toilets while 4% have no toilets at all,” as cited in their water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) Global Baseline Report 2019 published Wednesday.

“Health care facilities won’t be able to provide quality care to people if there is no safe water, toilet or hand-washing facility,” WHO Representative in the Philippines Dr. Gundo Weiler said.

WASH Global Baseline Report 2019Weiler then mentioned the recent water supply shortage in Metro Manila, which, he said, calls for “long-term solutions” in addressing the country’s health care facilities’ water, sanitation, and hygiene.

“The recent water shortage in Metro Manila highlighted the need for long-term solutions to water, sanitation, and hygiene in health care facilities. The Philippines must ensure that safe WASH facilities are available and accessible to ensure health for all Filipinos,” he said.

The recent water supply shortage forced some hospitals to reduce admission of patients. This prompted Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III to talk to water concessionaire Manila Water to prioritize supply for affected hospitals.

READ: DOH to Manila Water: Prioritize hospitals in rationing schedule

READ: 5 major hospitals assured of adequate water supply 

On a larger scale, WASH Global Baseline Report 2019 said one in four health facilities around the world lack basic water services, affecting over two billion people. /kga