About 76 per cent of births in Africa take place in healthcare facilities without basic water, sanitation and hygiene services, a new report by WaterAid has revealed.
The report titled “Born Without Water: The Crisis in Our Delivery Rooms” was released to mark World Water Day.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the report examined 16 countries across Africa and Asia, including Nigeria, highlighting risks faced by women during childbirth.
The report identified maternal sepsis as a leading cause of death, noting that one in nine births in Africa is linked to infections from poor hygiene.
It stated that access to clean water, sanitation and handwashing facilities could reduce maternal infections and deaths by at least 50 per cent.
The organisation noted that while Nigeria has WASH standards in healthcare facilities, gaps in funding, prioritisation and implementation remain.
It warned that these gaps expose women to preventable risks and undermine efforts to reduce maternal mortality.
WaterAid Nigeria, however, urged stakeholders to prioritise WASH services in healthcare facilities nationwide.
