Knowledge Library

These guidelines deal specifically with water supply, excreta disposal, drainage, health-care waste management, cleaning and laundry, food storage and preparation, control of vector-borne disease, building design, construction and management, and hygiene promotion. They provide a basis for setting and supporting the application of standards at a national, district and local levels, creating targets, policies and procedures, assessing the environmental health situation, planning and carrying out improvements if needed, ensuring the quality of new health-care settings, and implementing comprehensive and realistic action plans.

They are designed primarily for use in health-care settings in precarious situations, and in situations where simple and affordable measures can improve hygiene and health significantly.

These guidelines have been written for use by health managers and planners, architects, urban planners, water and sanitation staff, clinical and nursing staff, carers and other health-care providers, and health promoters.