A hospital serving communities along Ethiopia’s border with Kenya is strengthening the safety and dignity of patients, caregivers and healthcare workers after major improvements to its water, sanitation, hygiene and infection-prevention systems.
Moyale Hospital, a key health facility serving a catchment population of more than three million people, has received approximately $42,000 in support from the World Health Organization (WHO Ethiopia), financed by the Government of Japan, to address critical infrastructure gaps affecting healthcare delivery.
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Located at an important Ethiopia–Kenya border crossing, the hospital plays a dual role. Alongside providing routine medical services, it serves as a Point of Entry health facility, making its ability to prevent, detect and respond to infectious diseases particularly important for communities on both sides of the border.
Before the improvements, interruptions to the hospital’s water supply, limited handwashing and sanitation facilities and challenges with healthcare-waste management made it more difficult for staff to consistently maintain strong infection-prevention standards.
The new investment has focused on practical changes with an immediate impact on daily healthcare.
Two staff toilet blocks have been rehabilitated, while damaged water pipelines across the hospital compound have been repaired to improve the reliability of water services in clinical and patient-care areas. New handwashing stations have also been installed and existing sanitation facilities improved, supporting stronger hygiene practices and helping reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections.
Healthcare-waste management has received particular attention. The hospital’s existing incinerator was rehabilitated and a new ash pit constructed, providing improved infrastructure for the safer treatment and disposal of infectious medical waste.
One of the most visible additions is a new laundry facility with eight washing compartments located close to the patient wards. The facility gives caregivers who stay at the hospital for several days while supporting relatives access to clean water and a dedicated place to wash clothing and bedding.
For families, the improvement represents more than an infrastructure project. It provides a practical service that can make long hospital stays safer and more dignified.
At the handover ceremony, Innocent Komakech, WHO Hub Coordinator representing the WHO Ethiopia Representative, emphasized the importance of clean water, sanitation, hand hygiene and safe healthcare-waste management in protecting patients, healthcare workers, caregivers and surrounding communities.
These measures are also an important part of health-system preparedness. Strong infection prevention and control systems can help healthcare facilities reduce the spread of infections while improving their ability to respond to disease outbreaks and other public-health emergencies.
Moyale Hospital Medical Director Dr. Girma Hussen welcomed the improvements, noting that water interruptions, sanitation limitations and healthcare-waste challenges had affected patient care and staff safety. He expressed appreciation to WHO and the Government of Japan while highlighting the continued need to strengthen isolation capacity and preparedness for emerging infectious diseases.
Representatives from the Oromia Regional Health Bureau and local authorities also recognized the efforts of the hospital’s leadership and staff to improve healthcare quality despite longstanding infrastructure challenges.
For Ethiopia, the project demonstrates how targeted investments in basic healthcare infrastructure can have a significant impact on the quality and safety of care. Reliable water, functional sanitation, effective waste management and accessible hygiene facilities form the foundation of a healthcare environment where both patients and health workers can be better protected.
As Moyale Hospital continues serving communities in one of Ethiopia’s strategically important border areas, the strengthened systems are expected to support safer healthcare delivery while improving the facility’s capacity to prevent and respond to public-health threats.
Supported through the Japan-funded JSB Fund, the work reflects continued cooperation between WHO, the Government of Ethiopia and regional and local health authorities to strengthen health systems and build more resilient healthcare facilities.At Moyale Hospital, the result is tangible: better infrastructure, safer care and greater dignity for the people who depend on the facility every day.
