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In a moving testament to maternal resilience, Dorcas Azongo’s arduous journey to deliver her twins highlights the critical need for enhanced healthcare services in some of Ghana’s most underserved regions. As she traversed treacherous paths in a desperate bid to access safe childbirth facilities, her story underscores the alarming reality facing women worldwide who lack essential resources during one of life’s most vulnerable moments.
A Journey of Desperation
Dorcas, a 29-year-old mother from Beo-Tankoo in the Bongo district of Ghana, faced an agonising choice when it came time to give birth. With her community health centre lacking basic maternity services, including a midwife and adequate water supply, she was forced to weigh the risks of delivering her babies at home against the dangers of seeking medical help elsewhere.
With contractions intensifying, Dorcas embarked on a perilous journey that involved crossing a flooded river in the dead of night by canoe. She aimed to reach a clinic, only to be turned away due to the inability of the staff to manage a twin delivery. In severe pain, she returned to the riverbank where her husband awaited on a borrowed motorbike. Together, they navigated another river crossing before finally arriving at Bongo Hospital, where she delivered her twins in the hospital yard, a mere few steps away from official medical care.
The Ongoing Struggles of Maternal Health
Despite her successful delivery, Dorcas’s challenges did not end there. Nearly a year later, she shared her ongoing concerns about her children’s health, revealing that they frequently fell ill. “The twins are unwell almost all the time,” she lamented, her voice trembling with emotion. This ongoing struggle reflects the broader issues plaguing maternal and child health in regions where water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services are grossly inadequate.
The narrative surrounding Dorcas is not an isolated incident; it is emblematic of a systemic failure affecting thousands of mothers in Ghana and beyond. Every two seconds, a woman gives birth without access to clean water, proper sanitation, or hygienic conditions, leading to increased maternal and infant mortality rates. In Bongo, the lack of basic healthcare infrastructure exacerbates these risks, as mothers and midwives alike put their lives on the line to ensure safe deliveries.
The Campaign for Change
Dorcas’s harrowing story has gained attention through WaterAid’s ‘Time to Deliver’ campaign, which advocates for urgent action to ensure that all healthcare facilities are equipped with the necessary WASH services. This initiative seeks to raise awareness ahead of the upcoming UN water conference, highlighting the essential role of clean water and sanitation in maternal health.
Dorcas’s experience serves as a beacon, urging us to recognise the dire conditions many women face during childbirth. In her own words, she has expressed a desire to prevent her children from experiencing similar hardships. “I do not want more children under these conditions,” she stated, a sentiment that resonates with countless mothers grappling with the same concerns.
Why it Matters
Dorcas Azongo’s story is a stark reminder of the urgent need for systemic change in maternal healthcare, particularly in vulnerable regions. As we reflect on her experience, it becomes clear that improving access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene in healthcare facilities is not merely a logistical challenge but a fundamental human right. The implications of neglecting this issue are profound, affecting not just the health of mothers and their children but the future of entire communities. We must advocate for policies and programmes that prioritise maternal health, ensuring that no mother has to endure the trauma of unsafe childbirth again.
