For years, access to clean water and sanitation at the Bomboja clinic in Liberia was extremely limited, placing women, newborns, and health workers at risk. During childbirth, water was often unavailable, forcing caretakers to leave the facility to fetch water from the surrounding community. This created delays, compromised hygiene, and added stress during already difficult and vulnerable moments.
The lack of basic facilities affected dignity as well as health. There was no bathroom or shower in the delivery room, meaning women often had to leave the clinic unwashed after giving birth, or return home immediately to bathe. Without private toilets or reliable water at the point of care, women’s privacy was limited and infection risks were higher. These conditions discouraged some women from staying at the clinic before delivery or choosing to give birth there at all.
The pressure extended beyond the clinic. Limited water infrastructure also affected nearby communities, where families struggled to access clean drinking water, increasing the burden on the clinic’s already fragile system.
Last year, WaterAid Liberia work to expand and upgrade the delivery room bathroom, equipping it with gender‑responsive sanitation and menstrual hygiene facilities, including a shower for patients. A handwashing station was also constructed, enabling patients, caregivers, and health workers to practice hygiene behaviours.
To ease pressure on the clinic’s water system and improve access for surrounding households, an additional water outlet was installed for the nearby community. Together, these improvements now benefit an estimated 4,000 people. To ensure long‑term sustainability, a committee made up of clinic staff and community representatives was trained in operation and maintenance. For women like Asatta, who is expecting her third child, the change is profound. Water is now available during labour, a bathroom and shower are accessible within the delivery room, and dignity, privacy, and safety are restored.
