In Mali, the lack of basic water, sanitation, and hygiene services in maternity facilities is undermining efforts to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths, according to a recent report by WaterAid.
The organization argues that addressing this gap is a cost-effective public health priority that has not received sufficient political attention.
Report Highlights Widespread Service Gaps
WaterAid’s report, titled “Born Without Water: The Crisis in Our Delivery Rooms,” published in March 2026, states that 90% of maternity facilities in Mali lack basic sanitation facilities.
A separate 2024 assessment of water, hygiene, and sanitation services in Malian health facilities found that 83% of facilities do not have water meeting WHO standards for care, and 57% lack showers for women who have just given birth.
The situation is described as more critical in rural areas.
These deficiencies expose mothers and newborns to serious infections, including sepsis, which the report identifies as a leading cause of maternal and neonatal death.
The lack of running water, handwashing stations, functional toilets, and clean environments also fuels public distrust in the health system, undermining efforts to encourage facility-based deliveries.
Investment Returns and Policy Gaps
WaterAid’s analysis suggests that investing in water, sanitation, and hygiene in maternity wards is a simple and effective solution, potentially reducing childbirth-related maternal infections by at least 50%.
The report also estimates that an annual investment of $0.52 to $1.04 per person could generate more than $8.60 in health and economic benefits for every dollar invested.
Beyond direct health benefits, improving WASH in maternity facilities would contribute to national and international priorities, including reducing maternal and neonatal mortality, achieving Universal Health Coverage, and meeting the Sustainable Development Goals related to health, water access, and sanitation.
However, the report identifies the main obstacle as political rather than technical. While the government has made efforts in policies, standards, and investment, water, hygiene, and sanitation have not been fully integrated into strategies for reducing maternal and neonatal mortality.
Insufficient funding and accountability mechanisms limit the implementation of existing commitments.
Call for Explicit Budgets and Participation
In response, the report urges authorities to make improving water, hygiene, and sanitation in maternity facilities a national priority by explicitly integrating it into health policies and allocating specific, traceable budgets.
It also calls for strengthening the participation of women and health workers in the governance and monitoring of services.
The report concludes that the fight against maternal and neonatal mortality depends not only on medicines and healthcare staff but also on basic infrastructure. Investing in water, sanitation, and hygiene in maternity wards means saving lives.
Source: Mali 24