Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
4. There is dire need for a concerted effort from local bodies, State and Central governments to sustainably address quality and inequality issues in WASH provision. Comment. (250 words)
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The article presents to us a study into the cost of ensuring WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) in healthcare facilities of India.
Key Demand of the question:
Explain the issues in WASH provisions in the country and discuss the need for a concerted effort from local bodies, State and Central governments to sustainably address quality and inequality issues in WASH provision.
Directive:
Comment– here we have to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Express what you understand by WASH provisions.
Body:
The answer body must have the following aspects covered:
Brief background of the WASH situation in the country; A 2019 joint global baseline report by WHO and UNICEF had pointed out that globally, one in four healthcare facilities lacked basic water servicing and one in five had no sanitation service and 42% had no hygiene facilities at point of care.
Discuss the concerns with low coverage of WASH provisions in the country.
Explain that there is the need for a concerted effort from local bodies, State and Central governments to sustainably address quality and inequality issues in WASH provision.
There is the need to combine the WASH initiative with other national efforts to address health priorities.
Conclusion:
The intersection between WASH, infection prevention and control and antimicrobial resistance offers policy makers an opportunity to address multiple overlapping problems through interventions on WASH in healthcare facilities.
