Lack of water in Juba Teaching Hospital puts mothers, newborns at risk – midwife

2026-03-25 - 12:14

A midwife at Juba Teaching Hospital has raised alarm over a severe lack of water in the maternity ward, warning that the situation is putting mothers and newborns at risk of life-threatening infections. Joseline Kenyi says while support from United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has ensured a steady supply of essential drugs used to manage childbirth complications, basic necessities like clean water are not available. “The only available thing that we give back thanks to UNFPA is the uterotonic drugs, which are most of the time available. The oxytocin, the tranexamic, and the misoprostol, whenever we call, they respond very fast. We need water. Water is not there in maternity,” she said. She describes a dire working environment where midwives are unable to observe basic infection prevention practices due to the lack of water. “When I deliver a mother, I don’t wash my hands. When I hold a baby, I don’t wash my hands. I do a procedure, I’m supposed to wash before and after, but ours is the opposite. You talk about theatre, but when you look at theatre, it’s a combination of maternity as a whole. Without water, everything else is compromised,” she added. Ms Kenyi warns that the absence of water in such a critical unit exposes mothers and newborns to cross-infections, potentially reversing efforts made to improve maternal healthcare outcomes in the country. This comes after the referral hospital was left without electricity for days due to fuel shortage in its generator system. Ms Kenyi said improving surgical theatres and maternity services must start with ensuring access to water, which she describes as the foundation of safe healthcare delivery. Health experts say access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, commonly referred to as WASH services, is essential in healthcare settings to prevent infections and ensure safe childbirth.