World Vision Ghana has announced plans to install handwashing stations in 456 schools and healthcare facilities across six districts in the Upper East and Upper West regions by 2030. The initiative is part of the organisation's Universal Service Coverage target, which aims to ensure that at least 90 per cent of the population in its operational areas have access to water, sanitation and hygiene services. This effort seeks to address the challenges of limited access to water and poor hand hygiene in rural communities.
The districts targeted by World Vision Ghana are Bawku West, Builsa South, Garu and Tempane in the Upper East Region, and Wa East and Wa West in the Upper West Region. Specifically, the organisation plans to cover 303 schools and 153 healthcare facilities in these areas. The proposed handwashing stations will include permanent facilities connected to mechanised water systems, as well as portable facilities such as Veronica Buckets and refillable handwashing units.
World Vision Ghana's Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Richard Iddrisu, disclosed this information at the 2026 Regional Hand Hygiene and WASH Leadership Summit held in Bolgatanga. He explained that the organisation intends to install the facilities in caregiving areas of healthcare institutions rather than merely providing water connections within their compounds. This approach aims to ensure that the handwashing stations are easily accessible and effective in promoting hand hygiene.
Under the district-level targets, Bawku West is expected to receive handwashing stations in 35 schools and 20 health facilities, while Builsa South will have 110 schools and 21 health facilities covered. Garu is expected to benefit 25 schools and 18 health facilities, with Tempane targeting 25 schools and 25 health facilities. In the Upper West Region, Wa East will have 48 schools and 24 health facilities covered, while Wa West is expected to receive facilities in 60 schools and 45 health facilities.
Despite the efforts to improve hand hygiene, Mr Iddrisu identified limited access to water, inadequate funding and poor maintenance of existing facilities as some of the challenges affecting rural communities. He noted that long queues at water sources and the distance residents travel to fetch water often force households to prioritise other domestic needs over handwashing. Additionally, some schools lack child-friendly handwashing facilities, while existing installations are sometimes broken down due to inadequate funds for repairs and maintenance.
To sustain the intervention, World Vision Ghana plans to promote behavioural change at the community level, including the use of household handwashing facilities such as tippy taps. The organisation also intends to train artisans in the construction and maintenance of WASH infrastructure to support repairs when facilities break down. Furthermore, World Vision had previously trained more than 300 women in Bawku West in soap-making and provided them with materials to support production, household handwashing and livelihood activities.
Mr Iddrisu called for stronger collaboration with district assemblies, the Regional Coordinating Councils and other development partners to coordinate interventions, avoid duplication and promote local ownership. He proposed the reintroduction of district-level sanitation league tables to rank participating districts annually against agreed criteria and encourage healthy competition in improving sanitation and hygiene. The 2026 Regional Hand Hygiene and WASH Leadership Summit brought together stakeholders to discuss challenges and strategies for improving water, sanitation and hygiene services in the region.
Key points
- World Vision Ghana targets 456 schools and healthcare facilities for handwashing stations by 2030.
- The initiative aims to ensure that at least 90 per cent of the population in its operational areas have access to water, sanitation and hygiene services.
- Limited access to water, inadequate funding and poor maintenance of existing facilities are some of the challenges affecting efforts to improve hand hygiene in rural communities.
