A cost/benefit analysis of the STREAMS innovation for improved WASH in Malawian health care facilities.

Dr. Irwin was granted a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council grant for a cost/benefit analysis of the Systems, Training, Empowerment and Monitoring Support innovation in Malawi.

Health care facilities in low asset settings often lack safe and effective water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) systems, putting patients and staff at heightened risk for healthcare associated infections and medical complications. This problem disproportionately affects women since they tend to use health care facilities more frequently and acutely. To address this, we have developed the STREAMS (Systems, Training, Empowerment And Monitoring Support) innovation which seeks to improve WASH related infrastructure and quality of care through a circuit rider approach. This project will conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the STREAMS innovation to determine its value to health authorities and, if found to be highly valuable, will contribute to the sustainability and expansion of the innovation.