UNICEF gives over 13 million KGS worth of water, sanitation and hygiene supplies to the Ministry of Health of Kyrgyzstan

BISHKEK, 25 February 2022 – UNICEF is giving over 13 million KGS worth of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) supplies to the Ministry of Health for use in 14 clinical, children and maternity hospitals. The WASH supplies include 30 automatic washing machines, 434 professional cleaning carts and over 17,000 cleaning supplies. The gift of supplies was attended by the Deputy Minister of Health Mr. Ulukbek Bekturganov, the Head of the Public Health Department, Ms Ainura Akmatova, and the UNICEF Representative in Kyrgyzstan, Christine Jaulmes.

"UNICEF is continuously working to provide support for the Government’s response to COVID-19. This includes promoting immunization and providing vaccines, personal protective equipment, and hygiene and sanitation supplies to medical and education institutions", said Christine Jaulmes, the UNICEF Representative in Kyrgyzstan.

These supplies are vital for ensuring proper hygiene and sanitation conditions in medical facilities in Kyrgyzstan, especially in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2020, UNICEF completed two assessments on the status of WASH in healthcare facilities and schools. This resulted in identifying a need and an opportunity to strengthen the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education and Science responses through WASH interventions, infection prevention and control (IPC). The assessment’s main findings in health care facilities included the lack of water consumption standards for health facilities and the need to rely on reserve water due to frequent water supply interruptions, low water pressure, and water pipeline disrepair.

As part of its COVID-19 pandemic response, UNICEF has procured WASH and IPC supplies for healthcare facilities. UNICEF also supported developing and providing IPC training, SOP and manuals for 126 healthcare workers. It addressed other crucial findings of the WASH Assessments at the end of 2021.