Participants gained hands-on experience of using WASH FIT at a health centre in Tehran. Photo credit: WHO Iran29 October 2025, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran – Between 11 and 15 October, environmental health experts from 40 universities of medical sciences across 25 provinces participated in a national training of trainers (ToT), organized jointly by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MoHME), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The workshop strengthened the capacity of participants to lead improvements in water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), waste management and cleaning services in health facilities, essential elements of infection prevention, patient safety and quality care.
“Safe and sustainable WASH services are not optional, they are fundamental to delivering quality health care, protecting patients and health workers and building climate-resilient health systems,” said Dr Jaffar Hussain, WHO Officer-in-Charge in Iran. “This training has equipped national experts with the tools and knowledge to make this a reality in every health facility.”
The ToT included group work discussions and exercises on the 5 steps of WASH FIT. Photo credit: WHO IranThe training combined classroom learning with field visits and practical group exercises, allowing participants to apply the WASH FIT methodology in real-world settings. Facilitators from WHO and UNICEF noted the high level of professionalism and engagement, describing it as one of the most successful WASH FIT trainings conducted in the Region.
WASH FIT is a risk-based, iterative management tool developed by WHO and UNICEF to help health facilities identify hazards, prioritize improvements and monitor progress. Its adoption can reduce health care-associated infections, improve maternal and newborn care and build resilience against climate and health threats. In use in more than 50 countries, it enables health facilities to identify risks, plan and prioritize low-cost improvements and monitor progress over time.
The initiative builds on the Islamic Republic of Iran’s ongoing efforts to improve WASH in health care, including a 2021 baseline assessment of 742 facilities and a costed national roadmap developed with WHO support. It aligns with the WHO–MoHME 5-year strategic framework on environmental and occupational health and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Iran.
The workshop concluded with a high-level ceremony at Shahid Rajaei Heart Hospital attended by senior officials from MoHME, the Ministry of Energy, Presidential Department of Environment, WHO, UNICEF and the United Nations.
Forty experts took part in the WASH FIT ToT. Photo credit: WHO IranMs Dorina Andreev-Jitaro, UNICEF Representative in Iran, commended Iran’s commitment. “These are not luxuries, but the very foundation of quality care and dignity for every patient,” she said.
Mr Stefan Priesner, UN Resident Coordinator in Iran, highlighted the significance of the training, adding: “Institutionalizing WASH FIT within national standards, financing and monitoring frameworks will ensure these improvements endure.”
Partners from the UN and MoHME agreed on the next steps, including a provincial cascade of training to expand WASH FIT implementation nationwide, and technical assistance to integrate the tool into national monitoring systems.
With the Ministry’s leadership and support from WHO, UNICEF and the UN, Iran is advancing towards a future where every health facility is safe and resilient and no one is left behind.
