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The Ministry of Health and the National Public Health Agency (NPHA), with technical support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hosted a landmark technical workshop in Bo to develop national Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Built Environment Standards for healthcare facilities nationwide.
The workshop brought together experts from across the nation, including engineers, clinicians, and public health leaders. Participants were divided into five groups to address key thematic areas:
Group 1: Facility design, visiting areas, and general IPC considerations.
Group 2: Healthcare rooms, patient areas, hand hygiene facilities, and stockpiles of IPC supplies.
Group 3: Bed occupancy, capacity and spacing, staffing, ventilation, and infection prevention in specialized units.
Group 4: Sanitation systems, sinks, drainage, and environmental decontamination.
Group 5: Healthcare waste management, linen handling, water systems, and power supply.
The standards developed during the workshop will serve as a national blueprint for designing, renovating, and maintaining healthcare facilities, ensuring that infection prevention is built into the foundation of the health system.
By combining international expertise with local knowledge, the initiative marks a significant step toward a resilient and sustainable healthcare system, protecting patients and healthcare workers and preparing the country for future public health emergencies.
At the conclusion of the workshop, participants successfully developed comprehensive standards to improve infection prevention practices in healthcare settings nationwide.
