SHARE teams begin cross-country learning exchange to strengthen WASH in healthcare facilities

SHARE teams from Ghana, Mozambique, and Uganda have embarked on a cross-country learning exchange aimed at strengthening water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in healthcare facilities.

The learning experience is under the Sexual Health and Reproductive Education (SHARE) project. The initiative, funded by Global Affairs Canada, aims to improve the quality of adolescent-friendly and gender-responsive health services, with a particular focus on benefiting girls and young women.

The five-year project, which commenced in July 2021, is scheduled to conclude in March 2026.

A major component of the SHARE project has focused on constructing and upgrading WASH and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) infrastructure in selected healthcare facilities across the three implementing countries.

With the infrastructure works now completed, the learning exchange has been organised to enable teams to share practical experiences, document lessons learned, and identify best practices to guide the long-term operation and maintenance of the systems.

According to Priscilla Nkwange, the Regional Manager for WaterAid, Uganda the exchange has been designed to go beyond simple observation, ensuring that participants engage in structured documentation and hands-on field visits.

She noted that the approach is intended to promote a meaningful exchange that captures effective strategies, recurring challenges, and the unique implementation dynamics in each country.

“We have invested heavily in capacity building for different stakeholders, all aimed at strengthening health systems for sustainability, even after the end of the SHARE project,” Nkwange said.

She also added that in Uganda, the SHARE project is implemented by a consortium of WaterAid, FAWE, Right to Play, and FHI360, implemented in the districts of Adjumani and Buyende.

As part of the visit, the delegation toured several healthcare facilities, including Mungula Health Centre in Uganda. Project Manager for WaterAid Mozambique, Candido Cavele, said the field visit had been particularly insightful. He emphasised the importance of community engagement as a critical component of sustainability.

“I have learnt the value of teamwork with the beneficiaries, especially involving the community in project implementation. Their participation ensures ownership and longevity of the systems we put in place,” he said.

The field-based sessions allowed participants to observe firsthand the day-to-day realities of facility management, the effectiveness of service delivery models, and the sustainability measures employed to keep WASH systems functioning.

Dr Samuel K. Boakye-Boateng, Director of the Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division in Ghana’s Ministry of Health, expressed his admiration for the progress achieved at the project sites, highlighting how the hands-on learning approach provided clarity on successful implementation practices.

Throughout the exchange, teams are documenting best practices, operational challenges, and key lessons that will inform future WASH interventions within healthcare settings. In Uganda, the project has notably improved conditions in Adjumani and Buyende districts.

Bosco Kia, Principal Health Inspector at the Ministry of Health, commended the SHARE project for significantly transforming WASH standards in the two districts.

Principal Chief Administrative Officer for Adjumani, Richard Edema, echoed these sentiments, stressing that the findings from the exchange should shape future programs aimed at maintaining the improved facilities and ensuring their long-term functionality.

The learning exchange has brought together representatives from the three implementing countries, along with technical experts from WaterAid’s regional and global structures, including specialists from WaterAid UK’s Program Support Unit and WaterAid Canada.

The initiative marks a critical step toward ensuring that WASH investments under the SHARE project continue delivering lasting health benefits for communities across Africa.