LAGOS — A staggering 76 percent of births in Africa occur in healthcare facilities lacking basic water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services, putting mothers and newborns at serious risk, a new report by WaterAid has revealed.
Titled “Born Without Water: The Crisis in Our Delivery Rooms,” the study, released to mark World Water Day, surveyed 16 countries across Africa and Asia, including Nigeria, highlighting the dangerous conditions many women face during childbirth.
The report identifies maternal sepsis as a leading cause of death, with one in nine African births linked to infections caused by poor hygiene.
It further notes that ensuring access to clean water, proper sanitation, and hand washing facilities could cut maternal infections and deaths by at least 50 percent.
While Nigeria has established WASH standards for healthcare facilities, the report highlights persistent gaps in funding,
prioritisation, and enforcement, leaving women exposed to preventable risks and undermining national efforts to reduce maternal mortality.
WaterAid Nigeria called on governments and stakeholders to urgently prioritise WASH services across healthcare facilities nationwide to safeguard the lives of mothers and newborns.
