Rome, Italy — The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) Health Department participated in a high-level international meeting in Rome on April 22–23, 2026, focused on improving water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in healthcare facilities. The gathering, held under the theme Committed to WASH in Healthcare Facilities – A Gathering in Rome of Faith-based Organizations and Allies to Accelerate Progress, brought together religious leaders, health experts, and development partners from across the world.
KCCB was represented by the Head of the Health Department, Ms Jecinta Mutegi, and WASH Officer Tertullian Mariga, who joined discussions on the role of faith-based institutions in strengthening healthcare systems, especially in low-income countries. Faith-based health networks are estimated to operate between 20 and 40 per cent of healthcare facilities in many developing nations, making them key partners in expanding access to quality care.
The Rome meeting highlighted the urgent need to improve basic services such as clean water, proper sanitation, hygiene practices, and infection prevention in hospitals, clinics, and dispensaries. Participants noted that these services are critical to patient safety, maternal care, disease prevention, and the dignity of both patients and health workers.
Speaking during the forum, Ms Mutegi said Kenya had made notable progress through the global initiative. She noted that 28 healthcare facilities in Kenya were selected among 150 pilot sites worldwide, placing the country in a strong position to demonstrate practical improvements in WASH standards.
She explained that the programme began with detailed assessments of the selected facilities to identify gaps in water supply, sanitation infrastructure, hygiene practices, and waste management, followed by costing of the required interventions. From that process, KCCB established a dedicated WASH desk within its Health Department, a structure that had not previously existed.
Today, the desk coordinates WASH activities nationally, working closely with dioceses, Catholic hospitals, and health centres to improve standards and sustain progress.
Ms Mutegi said the initiative has also gained significant attention within Church leadership in Kenya. WASH is now a regular agenda item in departmental meetings and at the level of the Bishops’ Conference.“The bishops have shown genuine interest by asking questions, seeking updates, and exploring ways they can support WASH initiatives within their dioceses, even where resources are limited,” she said.
The Catholic Church is widely recognized as one of the largest organized providers of healthcare services in the world. In 2019, the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development launched a global initiative to improve WASH conditions in Catholic-run healthcare facilities. That effort has since inspired many faith-based organizations to assess needs within their own networks and invest in practical, locally sustainable solutions.
The Rome meeting also provided a platform for collaboration through the faith-based action sub-group of the WASH in Healthcare Facilities Community of Practice, where institutions share experiences, training models, and practical solutions.
Catholic entities were joined by Anglican, Evangelical, Methodist, and other Christian participants, as well as Jewish and Muslim leaders. Together, they reviewed progress already made and announced fresh commitments to strengthen training, reporting systems, financing, and long-term support for WASH services in healthcare facilities worldwide.
For KCCB, participation in the Rome forum reaffirmed the growing role of faith communities in public health and the importance of ensuring that every healthcare facility remains a place of healing, dignity, and safety.
