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Poor water and hygiene 'kills mothers and newborns' | Poor water and hygiene 'kills mothers and newborns' |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Many mothers and newborns are dying because of a lack of sanitation, safe water and hygiene while giving birth, leading health experts have warned. | Many mothers and newborns are dying because of a lack of sanitation, safe water and hygiene while giving birth, leading health experts have warned. |
They say the lack of such basic facilities is hindering the success of other interventions to improve the health of newborn babies. | They say the lack of such basic facilities is hindering the success of other interventions to improve the health of newborn babies. |
They've called on governments and agencies to focus more on the link between sanitation and saving lives. | They've called on governments and agencies to focus more on the link between sanitation and saving lives. |
Their report has been published in the scientific journal PLOS One. | Their report has been published in the scientific journal PLOS One. |
It has been drawn up by experts from the charity WaterAid, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the World Health Organization and other global health bodies. | It has been drawn up by experts from the charity WaterAid, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the World Health Organization and other global health bodies. |
Sanitation 'ignored' | Sanitation 'ignored' |
They say that while the importance of hygiene - for example, hand washing - is being recognised in some places, much less consideration is given to the complete package of safe water, hygiene and sanitation. | |
In some cases sanitation - toilets and facilities to dispose of waste - is being ignored. | In some cases sanitation - toilets and facilities to dispose of waste - is being ignored. |
Nearly 40% of health facilities in 54 low-income countries do not have reliable clean water, according to the World Health Organization. | Nearly 40% of health facilities in 54 low-income countries do not have reliable clean water, according to the World Health Organization. |
The report suggests that many efforts to improve newborn health focus on specific measures, sometimes at the expense of these basic facilities. | The report suggests that many efforts to improve newborn health focus on specific measures, sometimes at the expense of these basic facilities. |
And it argues that the lack of ways to dispose of waste safely could hamper the success of other interventions. | And it argues that the lack of ways to dispose of waste safely could hamper the success of other interventions. |
The experts behind the report say governments and agencies should pay much greater attention to the link between sanitation and saving mothers' and babies' lives. | The experts behind the report say governments and agencies should pay much greater attention to the link between sanitation and saving mothers' and babies' lives. |
Yael Velleman, at WaterAid, said: "We have known since Victorian times about the importance of clean water and good hygiene at birth. | Yael Velleman, at WaterAid, said: "We have known since Victorian times about the importance of clean water and good hygiene at birth. |
"Yet today tens of thousands of mothers will be giving birth in places where doctors and midwives, if present, do not have access to clean water. | "Yet today tens of thousands of mothers will be giving birth in places where doctors and midwives, if present, do not have access to clean water. |
"The process of giving life should not mean unduly risking death. | "The process of giving life should not mean unduly risking death. |
"As governments work to help women and their babies survive childbirth, they must not neglect these basic building blocks of health care." | "As governments work to help women and their babies survive childbirth, they must not neglect these basic building blocks of health care." |
Frustrating situation | Frustrating situation |
A study in the same journal reveals fewer than a third of births in Tanzania occur in places with safe water and basic sanitation. | A study in the same journal reveals fewer than a third of births in Tanzania occur in places with safe water and basic sanitation. |
In 2013, one in every 44 women in the country faced dying in childbirth. | In 2013, one in every 44 women in the country faced dying in childbirth. |
Lenka Benova, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: "Nearly 8,000 women in Tanzania die each year in or immediately after childbirth. | Lenka Benova, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: "Nearly 8,000 women in Tanzania die each year in or immediately after childbirth. |
"This situation is not limited to Tanzania. What is frustrating is we know infection-related deaths are preventable, with the addition of clean water, basic toilets and good hygiene practice. | "This situation is not limited to Tanzania. What is frustrating is we know infection-related deaths are preventable, with the addition of clean water, basic toilets and good hygiene practice. |
"Our hope is these findings will guide future work on UN development goals and make the provision of these services a priority, when trying to improve the health of new mothers and their babies." | "Our hope is these findings will guide future work on UN development goals and make the provision of these services a priority, when trying to improve the health of new mothers and their babies." |