Monday, 12 December is Universal Health Coverage Day and, to mark the day, WaterAid has released a new photo series revealing the silent emergency of erratic or non-existent water supply, broken toilets and poor hygiene, which puts the health of patients, staff and surrounding communities at risk.
According to WaterAid, even though Nigeria boasts the fastest-growing economy on the African continent, one-third of its population do not have access to clean water, two-thirds do not have access to basic, private toilets, and one in three healthcare facilities in Nigeria do not have access to water.
The international organisation insists that, within the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) committing to ensuring everyone has access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene by 2030, healthcare facilities should be prioritised, such that no new hospitals or clinics should be built without water and sanitation.
Gloria Samuel, 37, a cleaner at Bwari town Primary Health Centre, showing the rain water collected that is used to clean the toilets because there is no water supply to the centre. They also buy clean water to use for cleaning more sensitive sanitation and for patients who need clean water to wash. Upkuduru ward Bwari LGA, Abuja, NigeriaGallons of water lined up for sale in the Garki Village Primary Health Centre which is required because of lack of clean water supply to the centre. Abuja, NigeriaThe bad state of one of the toilets used by patients at Gwagwalada township clinic, Abuja, Nigeria.Martina Ohaegbulem, 56, the deputy nurse in charge/midwife showing the state of the toilets at the clinic. Zuba Primary Health Centre, Gwagwalada, Abuja, Nigeria.Nkiruka Okafor, 40, a volunteer nurse washing her hands thoroughly with water bought and stored, before attending to patients. Zuma Primary Health Centre, Abuja, Nigeria.Rukayyat Yahaya, 34, a lab technician at the Garki Village Primary Health Centre, Abuja, NigeriaAisha Bello, 24, and her new born baby Sa’adat (3 months old) came for post natal check up and routine immunisation at the Family Clinic Area 2 Primary Health Centre, Abuja, Nigeria
