Water and Sanitation

WATER AND SANITATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

According to WHO and UNICEF 2.1 billion people lack access to safe, readily available water at home and 4.4 billion lack safely managed sanitation.

In 2009 Leonie led a team, commissioned by UNICEF and the EU, to produce a series of media products on the state of water and sanitation in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Cote d'Ivoire. Films, short multimedia films, stills and text publications were delivered in English and French.

Neonatal ICU

16 March 2011. Malamulela, Limpopo, South Africa. This little patient was due to be released from the High Care unit, when it unexpectedly suffered a setback in the form of an infection.

16 March 2011. Malamulela, Limpopo, South Africa. Every year about 23,000 newborn babies die in South Africa (UNICEF data from 2010), but the majority of these deaths are easily preventable if hospitals improve the quality of their neonatal care.

This little patient was due to be released from the High Care unit, when they unexpectedly suffered a setback in the shape of an infection.

Yvone Mabasa, mother of 4-day old twins, takes care of them in the high care unit at the hospital. Malamulela district hospital is located in the Vhembe region of Limpopo, 200 kilometres from Polokwane, the provincial capital.

Yvone Mabasa, with one of her 4-day old twins in the neonatal high care unit at the hospital in Malamulela district.

The Postnatal help desk at Malamulela district hospital in Limpopo province, South Africa.

Ntlakuso Maleke was born on 27 February 2011 weighing 1500 gram and suffering from hyaline membrane disease, a syndrome in premature infants caused by developmental insufficiency of surfactant production and structural immaturity in the lungs. Mother Olga Mtilemi (20) has been instructed in Kangaroo mother care that involves constant skin-to-skin contact with her baby and exclusive breast feeding that will save her baby's life.

Malamulela district hospital, Limpopo, South Africa.

Ntsako Molukele's son was born the previous night at 22:00 weighing a healthy 3,2kg.

16 March 2011. Malamulela, Limpopo, South Africa. Mother Nkhesani Ndleve gave birth to twins earlier that morning. A boy and a girl. In her arms is her newborn daughter while her son is receiving more care in the high care unit. With her is her own mother (in green) Modjadji Baloyi and her mother-in-law Mphepu Shuvambu.

Mothers wait anxiously to be discharged (all gave birth the previous day 15 March 2011) Altogether eleven babies were born.

Proud grannies and aunts get ready to take the new members of their families home.

Mother Eva Chauke, Father Mathye Enlani Reem and their baby Kateko (6 months)visiting at Malamulela district hospital is located in the Vhembe region of Limpopo, 200 kilometres from Polokwane, the provincial capital.