Women in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region have petitioned the Bongo District Assembly to increase and dedicate funding towards Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services in healthcare facilities to improve the safety and dignity of patients.
The petition, read by their leader, Hannah Talata Asanyuu-re, said inadequate WASH facilities in some healthcare facilities were undermining infection prevention, patient safety and the quality of healthcare delivery.
"Children and persons with disabilities, pregnant women, mothers, caregivers and newborns are particularly affected by inadequate water supply, poor sanitation and insufficient hygiene facilities," they stated.
The women said their concerns were based on evidence gathered through their lived experiences, citizen scorecard processes and engagements with healthcare facilities.
"Some healthcare facilities have unreliable access to safe and adequate water, while toilet and handwashing facilities are either inadequate or poorly maintained," they said.
They also raised concerns about sanitation facilities that did not adequately meet the needs of women, pregnant women and persons with disabilities, as well as inadequate systems and resources for managing healthcare waste.
The petition further highlighted insufficient funding for the operation, maintenance and repair of WASH facilities, inadequate maternity infrastructure and limited information available to communities on district plans, budgets and progress in addressing the challenges.
"The situation can affect infection prevention and control, maternal and newborn health and the ability of healthcare workers to provide safe and dignified care," they stressed.
The women said communities across all the sub-districts had identified WASH as a major development priority during consultations for the preparation of the District Medium-Term Development Plan.
They, therefore, called on the assembly to reflect the priority in its development plans and budgets.
The petition also referred to an earlier engagement during the Time to Deliver Global Week of Action spearheaded by WaterAid Ghana, during which the assembly committed to supporting the establishment of a dedicated budget line for WASH within the district health service budget.
The women urged the assembly to translate that commitment into action as it prepared its Annual Action Plan.
They further called for specific and costed interventions for WASH in healthcare facilities and a dedicated, trackable budget line for their implementation.
Demands
The women demanded that the assembly provide funding for both infrastructure and recurrent WASH needs, including water supply, repairs, maintenance, cleaning and hygiene materials, accessible sanitation and safe healthcare waste management.
They also called for regular feedback to citizens on WASH allocations, actions taken and progress made.
The petition forms part of efforts by the women and their partners to strengthen community participation and accountability around WASH services in healthcare facilities.
Through the WaterAid-supported Time to Deliver project, the women have been engaging communities and duty bearers on the need for improved WASH services and greater attention to the needs of women and other vulnerable groups.
