The World Health Organization (WHO) technical officer for Ghana, George Atiim, on Tuesday urged Ghana to increase investments to quicken the pace of providing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities in health facilities to improve maternal health and neonatal outcomes.
Atiim made this call during the launch of a campaign dubbed “Time to Deliver” by global charity WaterAid Ghana, to advocate for improved WASH services in health facilities.
“WHO estimates that improving water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services could save up to 1.4 million lives each year,” according to the official.
Most of these lives will be saved through the reduction in maternal and neonatal sepsis-related death, reducing antimicrobial resistance, as well as responding to outbreaks and emergencies, said the WHO official.
Despite ongoing efforts, Atiim said the current progress suggests Ghana would not be able to meet universal access to WASH services in health facilities by 2030, with the poorest and most vulnerable populations, including women and children, affected disproportionately.
“Our actions and investments must ensure equity in access and the delivery of gender-responsive and disability-inclusive and climate change-resilient WASH services that leave no one behind,” Atiim urged.
He pledged WHO’s support for the government and the advocacy project by WaterAid Ghana to ensure that finances and investments are directed toward this purpose and strengthen the capacities of the health and allied workforce for improved service delivery and health outcomes.
Ewurabena Yanyi-Akofur, Country Director for WaterAid, Ghana, said the “Time to Deliver” campaign is a national call to action, and WaterAid Ghana would continue to partner with the Ghanaian government on this journey.
“Ghana has made bold commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals, to universal WASH coverage, and to the health and dignity of every citizen. And we celebrate the progress that has been made. But progress is not the same as arrival,” Yanyi-Akofur added.
The official added, “There is a generation of children in Ghana who will grow up to judge us not by the speeches we gave, but by the water that ran from the tap, the toilet that was clean, and the healthcare facility that was ready when their mother needed it most.”