26 October 2025 — The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, through its Centre for Environmental Health Action (CEHA), in partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Middle East and North Africa Regional Office (IFRC MENA) and in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund Middle East and North Africa Regional Office (UNICEF MENA), successfully concluded a regional training of trainers on the Water and sanitation for health facility improvement tool (WASH-FIT).
Held from 5 to 9 October 2025 in the 5-day training brought together 25 representatives from Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies in Lebanon, Yemen, the Islamic Republic of Iran, occupied Palestinian territory, Algeria, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Libya, Egypt and Jordan.
The workshop aimed to build a skilled cadre of national trainers capable of leading country-level rollouts of WASH-FIT. A dedicated field visit to Al-Jubiha Comprehensive Health Centre provided participants with hands-on experience in assessing and improving WASH services in health care facilities.
WASH-FIT is a WHO/UNICEF risk-based management tool that supports health care facilities in evaluating and enhancing the water, sanitation, hand hygiene, health care waste management, environmental cleaning, health workforce and energy and environmental domains. It plays a vital role in promoting climate-resilient, environmentally sustainable health care systems and reinforcing infection prevention and control, patient safety, quality of care and overall health system resilience.
The training was co-facilitated by Dr Rola Al-Emam, WHO Regional Office WASH Technical Officer, and Eng. Sohaib Abu Hamoor, CEHA Technical Assistant on WASH; Pedro Ogando dos Santos, Regional WASH and Climate Expert from UNICEF MENA; Eng. Hiba Abualroub, Regional WASH Coordinator and Jamilee Doueihy, Regional Senior WASH Officer, both from IFRC MENA. Their collective technical guidance ensured an interactive and practical learning experience, equipping participants with the knowledge and skills to champion WASH-FIT implementation within their national contexts.
This multi-partner initiative underscored the shared regional commitment to strengthening health care systems through sustainable WASH practices. By integrating WASH-FIT into national strategies countries are better equipped to protect public health and adapt to the challenges posed by climate change.
WHO CEHA extends sincere appreciation to all partners and participants for their dedication to improving WASH services and enhancing the safety, quality and sustainability of health care delivery across the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
