WaterAid launches Healthy Start campaign

With an aim to integrate safe water; sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in healthcare facilities, WaterAid launched the ‘Healthy Start’ campaign at the Centre for Economic and Social Sciences (CESS) in Begumpet.

Speaking after the launch, Dr Kumari said, “The problem is not with the doctors but with the way the healthcare facilities are maintained; Rs 200 crore budget has been sanctioned to strengthen the WASH infrastructure in the health care facilities and the government is aiming for Arogya Telangana. With this we will improve the government hospitals.”

The campaign was launched simultaneously in five locations across India, Delhi, Lucknow, Bhopal and Bhubaneswar along with Hyderabad to influence change in neonatal and maternal healthcare for a shift from curative to preventive health services, strengthen the health delivery system and increase demand for safe WASH services in healthcare facilities.

WaterAid India’s Director for programmes and policy, Avinash Kumar said, “For healthcare facilities to promote health, prevent infections and improve patient outcomes, they must have safe, adequate and functional water, sanitation and hygiene facilities. Through this campaign, WaterAid India is calling the government, civil society and communities to come together to take action on ‘wash’ to ensure that every start of life is a healthy start.”

The event was flagged off by a host of dignitaries that included Commissioner of Telangana Vaidya Vidhana Parishad (TVVP) Dr Veena Kumari; Joint Director of HFW Dr Subba Lakshmi; Mission Director of SBM Ram Mohan Rao; Dr A Rajasekhar Babu; the State Programme Officer of National Health Mission Dr Srinivas Rao; Head of BPHRC at LEPRA Society Dr Aparna; medical officers Dr Ravindra and Dr Samiullah.