Diarrhoea: An Unpopular but Important Cause

Diarrhoea kills some 1.7 million children every year -- that over three times the population of Kansas City wiped out annually by a preventable disease.  And yet, given the 'gross-out factor' it is highly unlikely that this disease will ever get the kind of celebrity endorsements that have helped raise awareness of breast cancer and AIDS.  Likewise, few development professionals want to become known as a 'diarrhoea expert.'  There is no glamor, it seems, in excrement.

But we must overcome this squeemishness if we are to ever get serious about reducing child mortality.  The World Health Organization estimates that 28% of deaths of children under five would be prevented thruogh better water and sanitation.

Indeed, preventing diarrhoea is often as easy as improving handwashing and proper disposal of excrement. Preventing death can be easy as ensuring that the child is properly hydrated with clean water. A recently released report by WaterAid shows that, despite diarrhoea being a major killer, international aid donors provide very little assistance to prevent it.

"Interventions that prevent diarrhoea, such as sanitation, are being marginalised, despite being highly cost-effective," say the report's authors.

When I was in graduate school studying international development, my classmates and I groaned when we heard that the next guest lecturer would take to us about diarrhoea and handwashing.  However, it ended up being one of the best lectures I attended all year. The guest professor explained with great passion how simple handwashing campaigns can in save lives. To learn more about her campaign, click here.

A recent project sponsored by Outreach International illustrates the impact small saniation projects can have in the developing world. Installing 12 small wells in five Malawian villages, Outreach International, in partnership with local community organizations, reduced water-bourne diseases by 60%. Click here to learn more.

-Matthew Bolton

Comments

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