We’re excited to announce that our team has officially kicked off data collection for the National Assessment of Guardian Waiting Shelters (GWS) across Malawi!
Every day, guardians stand by the bedsides of their loved ones, cooking, cleaning, offering comfort, and filling critical gaps in patient support. They are the heartbeat of our healthcare system. Yet the spaces they rely on are often overcrowded, poorly maintained, and lacking basic Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services. These conditions put guardians at risk and can increase the spread of diseases in our hospitals.
That’s why this assessment matters.
Led by the WASHTED Centre at MUBAS, together with University of Strathclyde and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
- Understand the current state of GWS
- Identify key gaps in WASH services
- Inform evidence-based improvements
- Strengthen infection prevention and control
And we’re not stopping there.
What we learn in this phase will pave the way for the next big steps:
- Co-developing national GWS IPC/WASH guidelines with key stakeholders
- Designing an intervention trial to transform how GWS are managed
Guardians do so much for Malawi’s health system. It’s time we ensure the places they depend on are safe, healthy, and dignified. Together, we’re building a stronger, cleaner, and more compassionate healthcare environment—one Guardian Waiting Shelter at a time.
