WaterAid Pakistan has launched the seven-year “Strengthening Holistic and Inclusive Systems for Health” (SWISH) project to improve safety, hygiene and infection prevention in public health facilities by integrating water, sanitation and hygiene into routine primary healthcare services. The initiative prioritises WASH integration to reduce infection risk and strengthen everyday service delivery for patients and staff.
The SWISH project is being delivered in partnership with the Government of Canada and will be implemented in District Lodhran in collaboration with Indus Hospital & Health Network and local health authorities. Rather than setting up parallel systems, the project will work within existing structures to build lasting capacity at facility and system levels across the district.
Mian Muhammad Junaid, Country Director of WaterAid Pakistan, said: “This project is about strengthening systems, not creating parallel services. By integrating water, sanitation and hygiene into everyday healthcare, we are helping create safer facilities, stronger services and better outcomes for families.” His remarks underscored the project’s emphasis on durable, system-wide improvements that embed WASH integration in routine care.
Mr. Muhammad Sufyan, Head of Punjab & KP at WaterAid Pakistan, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to working with provincial authorities: he emphasised creating pathways and systems with the support of the Government of Punjab to make safer healthcare facilities accessible for all. Collaboration with Indus Hospital & Health Network and local health teams will focus on practical interventions that are sustainable within public health operations.
By centring WASH integration within primary healthcare, the SWISH project aims to enhance infection prevention, improve hygiene standards, and strengthen service delivery for communities in Lodhran and beyond. The approach seeks measurable gains in facility safety while building capacity that can be scaled across the province.
