WaterAid says 16 million women face childbirth risks each year without clean water
WaterAid has launched a global campaign highlighting the number of women giving birth without clean water, sanitation and hygiene, with more than 16 million women exposed each year to preventable infection, complications and death.
The Time to Deliver campaign has been launched to mark the International Day of the Midwife. It uses photography, filmed interviews and case studies from 13 countries to show how birth conditions differ sharply across the world.
The campaign includes stories from Ethiopia, Malawi, Australia, Japan, Ghana, the UK and Canada. It focuses on what women pack for childbirth, and what those items reveal about the health facilities waiting for them.
WaterAid says that in the world’s least developed countries, a woman gives birth every two seconds without clean water. In some settings, women must bring buckets to collect water, razor blades to cut umbilical cords, and plastic sheets, bleach and soap to reduce infection risk.
In Australia, maternity bags are more likely to include baby clothes, breast pads and personal care items. The contrast is central to the campaign, which uses everyday items to show how access to safe birth conditions remains deeply uneven.
Australian voices support the global campaign
Australian supporters, creators and health advocates are backing the campaign as part of a wider international push. WaterAid says early media interest, health advocacy and digital audience engagement in Australia have helped bring attention to the issue.
Creator and influencer content will also support the campaign, including Dr Golly and Tully Smyth. WaterAid is using the campaign to drive awareness and gather signatures for a global petition calling for investment in clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene in healthcare facilities.
WaterAid Australia CEO Tom Muller said the lack of basic hygiene in health facilities continues to place mothers and newborns at risk.
“This campaign highlights a critical truth: access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene is fundamental to safe childbirth, yet for too many women it remains out of reach. In one in five health facilities, the absence of these basics means midwives cannot wash their hands or properly sterilise equipment, putting both mothers and newborns at serious risk. As a result, women are forced to bring their own water, disinfectant or protective materials just to give birth safely. No woman’s chance of a healthy delivery should depend on whether these essential services are available.”
The campaign comes ahead of the UN Water Conference in December. WaterAid is calling on governments and the public to act on maternal health inequality by supporting access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene in every maternal health facility.
To learn more, join the movement and sign the petition, visit wateraid.org/au/tell-world-leaders-its-time-deliver
