© WaterAid/ Guilhem Alandry

The Water Effect Appeal Clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene should be a normal part of everyone’s daily life; but for many people, it isn’t. Around the world, more than 1 in 3 health centres do not have clean water. In Mali, West Africa, it’s 4 out of every 5. As a result, diseases can spread fast, and simple, treatable conditions can kill. © WaterAid/ Guilhem Alandry

Talo Health Centre Mali, West Africa © WaterAid/ Guilhem Alandry

to newborn babies, adults and the elderly. The Talo Health Centre serves more than 5,000 patients from seven surrounding villages; from pregnant women to newborn babies, adults and the elderly. Without clean water, staff have to make choices that compromise the health and care of their patients every single day. “Our job is to help save lives, it is a very difficult job for us with our conditions.” © WaterAid/ Guilhem Alandry

© WaterAid/ Guilhem Alandry Drissa was born in the health centre, but later developed ‘fistula abscesses’, open wounds with pus seeping out. Doctor Martin Koné has spent the last few months treating Drissa’s wounds every few days. He had to use an expensive salt solution because there is no clean water at the health centre. While Drissa’s parents have been visiting the health centre every few days, they have been unable to tend their crops. And the cost of the salt water has left them with no money at all – they’ve had to borrow from neighbours. “When we came here to see the doctor we were really afraid. My husband and I and all the children, everybody thought that Drissa will die.”

Djénéba came to Talo Health Centre to give birth Djénéba came to Talo Health Centre to give birth. During delivery, it became clear that she was expecting not one, but two precious babies. There was no clean water for her to drink as she gave birth, and to wash herself and her babies with after they arrived. While she was labouring, her elderly mother-in-law was forced to fetch dirty water from a well in the village, so the room could be “cleaned” before the next mother-to-be arrived. “It’s a bad situation in general because you cannot get clean and the child cannot get clean. So mum and child are both dirty and infections happen.” © WaterAid/ Guilhem Alandry

Clean water will transform communities around the world No parent should have to take their child to the hospital because the water they drink has made them sick. No grandmother should have to collect and carry water for the birth of her grandchild because the health centre doesn’t have any. No worker should have to risk getting an infection because the health centre they go to isn’t clean. No doctor should have to treat patients without being able to wash their hands. No midwife should have to deliver babies without clean water to keep their equipment and space hygienic. © WaterAid/ Guilhem Alandry

What are WaterAid doing in Talo? This winter, we are working to put clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene at the heart of health centres like Talo. Clean water will mean staff won’t have to leave their duties to collect water, doctors can wash hands between patients, matrons can clean the delivery room, and babies can be protected from infections. © WaterAid/ Guilhem Alandry With the support of churches like yours, in health centres like Talo we can renovate the existing toilet cubicles, ensure waste is properly removed, and soap and water are available for handwashing. We can install a new shower and toilet close to the delivery room, so new mothers and babies can stay healthy, and relatives won’t have the burden of having to collect water for the birth. We can support good hygiene habits, installing handwashing stations with soap, so the healthcare team can get on with the job they trained for. And patients can keep clean when visiting the centre.

How your church can help By supporting The Water Effect Appeal, your church can help bring clean water to health centres like Talo this Christmas. You can make a difference to people’s health in some of the world’s poorest countries with the transformation that only clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene can bring. We’ve put together some great festive fundraising ideas for everyone: Christmas collection: a festive collection one Sunday during Advent Nativity play: with a small donation to attend Christmas feast: a lunch or supper with everyone bringing a different, homemade dish to share, and a small donation to attend Christmas fayre: with festive treats, decorations and gifts to sell in return for donations A carol concert: for a small donation in return for an evening of festive songs, mince pies and mulled wine Add it on: a quick and easy fundraiser to keep 50p aside for each Christmas gift you buy, to help us give the greatest gift of all – clean water

Thank you so much for supporting The Water Effect Appeal © WaterAid/ Guilhem Alandry