By Danielle Johnson

The health benefits of securing access to safe water and improved sanitation are well studied and clearly understood; the impact of safe water extends far beyond simply having clean water to drink. The many challenges created by a lack of access resonate through practically all aspects of everyday life and can present difficulties one may not initially consider. In just one example, without safe water and improved sanitation, mothers and their newborns face dangerous circumstances during and after delivery.

According to the WHO, only 24% of births in rural Niger are attended by a skilled healthcare professional. Women in rural communities most often deliver their babies at home where access to safe water and sanitation is extremely limited. Nearly 70% of Niger’s rural population lack access to safe water sources. This means the most basic act of hand washing to limit the spread of germs and infection during a delivery becomes a real challenge. The staggering dangers of delivering outside of a medical clinic, and in the absence of a medical professional, are even further compounded by a lack of access to safe water. Furthermore, 98% of people living in rural Niger have no access to sanitation, which means new mothers are forced to relieve themselves outside.

If they are fortunate enough to have extra water for their delivery, but must rely on an unsafe source, mothers are forced to wash their newborns and themselves with contaminated water which can spread disease and cause infection. The effects of unhygienic practices and infection after delivery have lasting and devastating effects, causing maternal death up to 6 weeks after delivery. Newborns, in particular, are susceptible to disease and infection which can lead to deadly sepsis. It’s not surprising that infant mortality drops by up to 70% in villages where WBH drills a well.

With more than seven children born to each Nigerien woman, these statistics add up. The WHO reports that approximately 37% of deaths among women of reproductive age are due to maternal causes. Niger is among the world’s top 15 countries with the worst maternal mortality rates, with one-third of maternal deaths occurring among girls between the ages of 15-19.

Sadly, the Millennium Development Goals designed to decrease maternal mortality rates are far from being realized, giving credence to the claim that women and children suffer the most under conditions of extreme poverty. This is why WASH deserves a front row seat in the formulation of the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals. A worthwhile start to this conversation should include an exploration of how to provide mothers and newborns critical access to safe water for delivery and postpartum care, an incredibly basic yet essential aspect of ensuring the health and survival of mothers and newborns in low income countries

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