This article is focused on the following UN Sustainable Development Goal:
Drinking clean water is essential for every human being since contaminated water and poor sanitation are linked to diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid and polio. What is mainly going to be talked about is cholera. Cholera is a waterborne disease caused by eating or drinking contaminated water or food. It is directly linked to countries in which they have no access to clean water and sanitation, which is against the UN’s global goal 6. The majority of cholera outbreaks take place in underdeveloped countries that have no access to clean water sources.
The above diagram showing a worldwide overview of cholera by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Contro (ECDC) supports the idea that in the countries where clean water is not secure, the case of cholera is much more abundant than the countries with clean water and sanitation. People who are infected by cholera will severely suffer from diarrhoea and vomiting, which can often lead them to dehydration. Getting a vaccine called Vaxchora will prevent people from risk of being infected but WHO has reported that there is a global shortage of vaccines. The other way to prevent people from being infected by cholera is to drink clean water and keep sanitised but this is not kept well in the majority of countries experiencing cholera crisis. Cholera is currently many places around the world, mostly places in South Asia, Caribbean and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Malawi is currently experiencing a rapid increase in the number of cholera cases. Handful number of reasons caused this to happen and the first reason is climate change. Last year, tropical storms Ana, Batsirai, and Gombe caused significant damage to water systems across Malawi, and demolished sanitation and major hand-washing infrastructure. This affected people in terms of keeping themselves sanitized and drinking clean water, which put them at risk of cholera and spreading disease. The second reason is the existing water and sanitation crisis.
Even before storms hit, it was reported that 33% of Malawian households were not able to have access to clean water and sanitation.
Here are some things that you do to contribute to increasing cases of cholera. First, you can call on world leaders to step up against the climate crisis that is happening due to flooding and storms and affecting people’s life including access to clean water and sanitation. You can also donate to organisations that are working to combat the world’s biggest cholera outbreaks including Doctors without Borders, World Vision, and Save the Children. Taking an action to support leaders who are campaigning for people’s right to have clean water will help as well. Through these methods, if everyone’s access to clean water and sanitation is ensured, the outbreak of cholera will surely decrease and people will not have to suffer or worry about those infected by cholera.
Remember, change starts with you.
Cholera worldwide overview. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. (2023, February 24). Retrieved February 25, 2023, from https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/all-topics-z/cholera/surveillance-and-disease-data/cholera-monthly
The global fight to end cholera: Everything you need to know. Global Citizen. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2023, from https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/what-is-cholera-explainer-clean-water-sanitation/
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