Post views: 4,300
Story by: Paul Mensah Nsor
WaterAid Ghana launched the "Time to Deliver" campaign in Accra, urging the government, development partners, the private sector and civil society to urgently prioritize water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in healthcare facilities across the country.
Country Director Awurabena Yanyi-Akofur said the campaign highlights persistent gaps in basic WASH services despite progress in other areas. Citing recent findings, WaterAid noted that 45% of healthcare facilities lack basic water services, 50% lack basic sanitation, 43% lack basic hygiene and 40% lack basic waste management, shortfalls that disproportionately affect women and undermine health outcomes.
The campaign calls on government authorities to honor financing commitments and embed WASH as a priority within health sector planning and budgeting. Awurabena Yanyi-Akofur outlined concerns that local allocations intended for WASH are often insufficient when broken down at district level, and stressed the need for stronger accountability to ensure resources are used effectively.
She also appealed to development partners and the private sector to align funding with national WASH priorities and to increase investment in last-mile solutions for underserved communities. WaterAid emphasized that while market-based approaches are growing, continued grant support remains essential for vulnerable areas and facilities that cannot yet sustain services independently.
Civil society and community leaders present pledged to amplify the campaign’s message, mobilizing women’s groups, traditional leaders and health stakeholders to press decision-makers for action. Yanyi-Akofur said she expects collective advocacy over the next year to drive visible commitments from political leaders.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Lawrence Ofori-Boadu, Director of the Institutional Care Division at the Ghana Health Service, stressed that clean water is fundamental to safe, dignified childbirth and quality healthcare. “Clean water saves life,” Dr. Ofori-Boadu said, framing access to safe water as the starting point for preventing infections and improving maternal and child outcomes.
The launch highlighted alarming gaps: many women still give birth in facilities without reliable access to clean water, adequate toilets or basic hygiene services. Speakers warned these shortcomings contribute to preventable maternal and neonatal infections and undermine the ability of midwives and clinical staff to deliver lifesaving care.
Campaign leaders set a clear target: accelerate action so that by 2026 every health facility and the communities they serve, has safe water and decent sanitation. Attendees urged political leaders, donors and community influencers to prioritize financing and policy reforms that place women at the center of WASH planning and investment.
Organizers called for a coordinated global petition led by WaterAid Ghana to build momentum and hold decision-makers accountable. The initiative seeks to mobilize funding for infrastructure, promote standards for facility-level hygiene, and amplify community voices demanding safe care environments.
Advocates said the campaign is not only about infrastructure but also dignity: clean water enables hygienic births, safer postpartum care, proper sanitation, and improved working conditions for health workers — all essential to reducing preventable deaths among mothers and babies.
WaterAid urged immediate steps including clearer budgetary allocations for WASH within district health planning, routine monitoring of facility service levels, and targeted investments for hygiene, sanitation and waste management at health centers. The organization framed the campaign as a call to ensure that every healthcare facility offers safe water and sanitation as a fundamental component of quality care.
