Evaluation of COVID-19 and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in Schools and Dispensaries of Akhmeta and Tsalka Municipalities

The project – “Community Action to Improve WASH Services in Vulnerable Rural Communities of Georgia” – is being implemented by CENN within the New World Programme (NWP), which is financially supported by the Global Water Challenge and the Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF).

Purpose of evaluation

The main goal of the assessment was to evaluate the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) conditions and readiness for the COVID-19 pandemic in schools and dispensaries of Tsalka and Akhmeta Municipalities. The evaluation was managed within the framework of the Global Water Challenge and the Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF) supported project “Community Involvement in Georgia to Improve WASH Services in Vulnerable Communities” implemented by the Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN) in the Kvemo Kartli and Kakheti regions.

Evaluation method and design

In Tsalka and Akhmeta Municipality schools (42 schools) and dispensaries (27 dispensaries), the study aimed to assess COVID-19 and WASH conditions as well as obtain data on adherence to hygiene rules by relevant target groups. In particular, schools have assessed the challenges of and the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. They prepared recommendations to improve the situation. In the case of dispensaries, they identified significant problems with the primary health care system, and knowledge and practice assessments were conducted as a result.

Brief Report: _Evaluation of COVID-19 and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in Schools and Dispensaries