Clean water, safe sanitation, and good hygiene are critical for preventing and controlling infectious diseases. Yet in many countries, poor water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions in health facilities expose pregnant women and newborns to illness and infection, discourage families from seeking lifesaving care, and force health workers to deliver services in unsafe and unpleasant working environments.

USAID recognizes that access to basic water, sanitation, and hygiene services within health care facilities are the cornerstone of quality, equitable, and respectful services.