WaterAid Papua New Guinea (WAPNG), in partnership with the National Capital District Provincial Health Authority (NCDPHA), has successfully facilitated a three-day Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) in Healthcare Facilities deep dive session at the 9-Mile Urban Clinic.
The workshop brought together an inclusive group of clinic staff, support workers, and community leaders, highlighting a collective commitment to improving healthcare delivery through superior hygiene practices.
Participants including managers, nurses, community health workers, cleaners, volunteers, and support clinicians, gained the skills necessary to identify and resolve critical gaps in water supply, sanitation, facility cleaning, and medical waste disposal.
The program was delivered across six structured modules centered on the Water and Sanitation for Health Facility Improvement Tool (WASH FIT).
Jointly developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, WASH FIT is a global, risk-based management framework that helps healthcare facilities meet and maintain strict minimum standards for hygienic safety.
As a result of this collaboration, these localized WaSH improvement activities have been formally integrated into the NCDPHA’s broader Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) framework.
This structural integration ensures that frontline facilities like the 9-Mile Urban Clinic will receive sustained system support and long-term oversight.
Furthermore, the initiative directly aligns with the National Department of Health’s (NDoH) ongoing rollout of both the National Guidelines and the National Roadmap for Improving WASH in Healthcare Facilities across all Provincial Health Authorities.
The Chief Executive Officer of NCDPHA Dr. Robin Oge emphasized the long-term vision of the project.
“Our commitment to WaSH in healthcare facilities is unwavering,” Dr. Oge said. “By working with partners like WaterAid PNG, we are ensuring that every patient, mother, and newborn who walks into our clinics has access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene.”
“This is not just about infrastructure; it is about dignity, safety, and saving lives. NCDPHA will continue to champion these improvements across all our facilities.”
Moving forward, WaterAid remains dedicated to supporting the NDoH and Provincial Health Authorities as they advance national standards to meet Sustainable Development Goal 6 and Papua New Guinea’s Medium-Term Development Plan 4 (MTDP 4).
The successful implementation at the 9-Mile Urban Clinic represents a critical step toward establishing safer, cleaner, and more resilient healthcare environments for families across Port Moresby and the surrounding regions.
