Training on Public Health in WASH during Emergencies

Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) are critical components of public health during emergencies such as disease outbreaks, natural disasters, and humanitarian crises. Inadequate access to safe water, sanitation facilities, and hygiene practices often leads to increased disease transmission, especially cholera, typhoid, and diarrheal diseases.

This training equips participants with practical knowledge and skills to design, implement, and manage WASH interventions that protect health and save lives during emergencies. Through interactive sessions, real-life case studies, and simulations, participants will learn about emergency preparedness, rapid WASH assessments, coordination with humanitarian actors, and sustainable recovery approaches.

Duration

5 Days

Who Should Attend

• Public health officers and WASH practitioners

• Emergency response and humanitarian workers

• NGO and UN agency staff engaged in disaster response

• Environmental health officers and community health workers

• Policy makers and program managers in health and disaster management

• Development partners supporting emergency relief and recovery

Organizational Impact

• Improved capacity to design and deliver effective WASH interventions in emergencies

• Stronger ability to prevent and control disease outbreaks in crisis settings

• Enhanced organizational readiness for disaster response and recovery

• Better alignment with international humanitarian standards (Sphere, WHO, UNICEF)

Individual Impact

• Practical skills in conducting WASH assessments and implementing interventions

• Greater confidence in managing WASH activities in challenging emergency contexts

• Improved ability to work with multi-sectoral teams during humanitarian crises

• Strengthened career opportunities in public health and emergency response

By the end of the training, participants will be able to:

• Understand the role of WASH in safeguarding public health during emergencies.

• Conduct rapid WASH assessments in disaster-affected settings.

• Plan and implement emergency WASH interventions that meet international standards.

• Integrate hygiene promotion and disease prevention into emergency response.

• Coordinate WASH responses with government, humanitarian actors, and communities.

• Develop strategies for recovery and building resilience after emergencies.

Module 1: Foundations of WASH in Emergencies

• Role of WASH in protecting public health during crises

• Common WASH-related diseases in emergencies

• International humanitarian standards (Sphere, WHO, UNICEF)

• Case Study: Cholera outbreak response in refugee camps

Module 2: Rapid Assessment and Emergency Planning

• Conducting WASH needs assessments in emergencies

• Prioritizing interventions based on risk and urgency

• Planning WASH interventions within humanitarian response frameworks

• Practical Exercise: Designing a rapid WASH assessment tool

Module 3: Emergency Water Supply and Sanitation Solutions

• Safe water supply options in emergency settings (treatment, distribution, storage)

• Emergency sanitation technologies and approaches

• Waste management during crises

• Case Study: WASH interventions in post-earthquake Haiti

Module 4: Hygiene Promotion and Disease Prevention

• Hygiene behavior change in emergencies

• Handwashing, menstrual hygiene management, and infection control

• Community engagement and communication strategies

• Simulation: Designing a hygiene promotion campaign during an outbreak

Module 5: Coordination, Monitoring, and Recovery

• Working with government, NGOs, and international humanitarian clusters

• Monitoring and evaluating WASH interventions in emergencies

• Transitioning from emergency response to long-term recovery and resilience

• Capstone Project: Developing an emergency WASH response plan for a simulated disaster scenario