STREAMS innovation for improved WASH in Malawian health care facilities, - Presentation at Canadian Conference on Global Health

Dr. Irwin received Research and Professional Development funds to present on an innovated response to the issues of water, sanitation, and hygiene in least developed countries.

In 2019, the WHO and UNICEF outlined the severe deficit of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in health care facilities (HCFs) around the world, especially those in least developed countries (LDCs). In response, we developed the STREAMS (Systems, Training, Empowerment And Monitoring Support) innovation and applied it in Rumphi district, Malawi. The presentation at the Canadian Conference on Global Health will highlight the STREAMS innovation and how gender dimensions were embedded. The program and its findings shed light on pathways to more inclusive, empowering, and sustainable – thus effective – health care in LDCs, which contributes to SDGs 3, 5, 6.