March 2024 – Centre for Family Health Initiative

WATERBORNE DISEASES AND PREVENTION

Waterborne diseases pose significant health risks worldwide, particularly in regions with inadequate sanitation and clean water infrastructure. These diseases are caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites that contaminate water sources, leading to illnesses when consumed or in contact with the human body.

In 2022, globally, at least 1.7 billion people use a drinking water source contaminated with faeces. Microbial contamination of drinking-water as a result of contamination with faeces poses the greatest risk to drinking-water safety.1
Common Waterborne Diseases include:

Cholera: Caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, cholera leads to severe diarrhea and dehydration. It spreads through contaminated water and food, particularly in areas with poor sanitation.

Typhoid Fever: Salmonella typhi bacteria cause this potentially fatal illness. Contaminated water and food, often in areas with inadequate sewage disposal, transmit the disease. Symptoms include high fever, stomach pain, and headache.

Hepatitis A: This viral infection affects the liver and spreads through the ingestion of contaminated water or food. Symptoms include jaundice, fatigue, and abdominal pain.

Dysentery: Caused by various bacteria, parasites, or viruses, dysentery results in bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. It spreads through contaminated water, particularly in areas with poor hygiene practices.

Giardiasis: The Giardia intestinalis parasite causes this diarrheal illness. Contaminated water sources, such as rivers and lakes, transmit the parasite, leading to symptoms like diarrhea, gas, and stomach cramps.

Some of the prevention strategies include having access to clean water, proper sanitation infrastructure; including sewage systems and waste disposal facilities, Promoting good hygiene practices, such as handwashing with soap and water, education campaigns on the importance of hygiene in disease prevention, water testing and monitoring, vaccination, proper food handling and fostering community engagement.

Waterborne diseases continue to pose significant health challenges globally, particularly in regions with inadequate access to clean water and sanitation. Effective prevention strategies, including ensuring access to clean water, improving sanitation infrastructure, promoting good hygiene practices, and implementing vaccination programs, are crucial in reducing the burden of waterborne illnesses. By prioritizing prevention efforts and fostering community engagement, we can work towards a healthier and safer future for all.

Reference:

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SPEAK WEDNESDAY ON PERIOD POVERTY AND ITS IMPACT ON GIRLS MENSTRUAL HEALTH

Gender Based Violence, Speak Wednesday, Uncategorized / cfhinitiative

Period poverty, which encapsulates the challenges of accessing menstrual products, education, and sanitary facilities, significantly affects millions of women and girls worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 500 million individuals lack adequate resources for managing menstrual hygiene.

A critical examination of period poverty reveals dire health implications. The WHO points out that inadequate menstrual hygiene management is linked to several health issues, including bacterial and reproductive tract infections, as well as urinary tract infections.
Furthermore, the United Nations has highlighted the potential of severe conditions such as toxic shock syndrome and cervical cancer stemming from the use of unsanitary menstrual materials like old rags, leaves, or newspapers.

Beyond physical health, period poverty exerts a profound impact on mental well-being. UNICEF reports that the inability to afford menstrual products often leads to feelings of humiliation and shame among girls, precipitating anxiety and depression. This emotional toll can disrupt their education, forcing some to abandon school altogether, further isolating them socially and limiting their future educational and employment opportunities. Such outcomes perpetuate a cycle of social and economic disadvantage with far-reaching implications.

Access to affordable, reusable, and safe menstrual supplies and education on menstrual health and sanitation is crucial. Governments and organizations must prioritize addressing the underlying factors contributing to period poverty. By advocating for change and enhancing awareness, period poverty can be acknowledged and addressed as the significant human rights issue it is, paving the way for a future where all women and girls can manage their menstrual health with dignity.

Today, March 20, 2024, the Centre for Family Health Initiative (CFHI), in collaboration with Real Relief, is hosting an event titled “Menstrual Equity and Empowerment: A Pathway to Gender Equality” at the ongoing UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) 68th session in New York. This event marks a significant step in raising awareness and fostering change.

Speak Wednesday is an initiative of CFHI to address issues around gender-based violence and gender bias.


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MONDAY HEALTH BURST ON TRANSMISSION AND CAUSES OF TUBERCULOSIS
		
			Monday Health Burst, WHO / 			
				
				cfhinitiative			
			
		

		
		

					
				Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health concern, with millions of new cases reported each year. This infectious disease primarily affects the lungs but can also target other parts of the body. In 2022, an estimated 10.6 million people fell ill with tuberculosis (TB) worldwide, including 5.8 million men, 3.5 million women and 1.3 million children. ¹
TB is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. The primary mode of transmission is through inhalation of airborne droplets containing the bacteria. However, not everyone exposed to TB bacteria becomes infected. Factors such as the duration and proximity of exposure, the infectiousness of the individual with TB, and the immune status of the exposed person play crucial roles in determining the likelihood of transmission. Certain environments can also facilitate TB transmission, particularly crowded and poorly ventilated spaces. Prisons, homeless shelters, refugee camps, and healthcare facilities are examples of settings where TB transmission can occur more readily.
The causes of TB include:

Bacterial Infection: Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the main causative agent of TB. When someone with active TB disease coughs or sneezes, they release bacteria into the air, which can then be inhaled by others.


Weak Immune System: People with weakened immune systems, such as those living with HIV/AIDS, malnutrition, or other conditions that compromise immunity, are at higher risk of developing TB. The immune system normally helps control TB infection, but when it’s weakened, the bacteria can multiply and cause active disease.


Close Contact: Close and prolonged contact with someone who has active TB increases the risk of transmission. This is why household members, close friends, and healthcare workers who care for TB patients are at higher risk.

Drug Resistance: Misuse or inadequate use of antibiotics can lead to the development of drug-resistant strains of TB. Drug-resistant TB is more challenging to treat and requires more prolonged and costly therapy. 

Social Determinants: Socioeconomic factors such as poverty, overcrowded living conditions, and limited access to healthcare contribute to the spread of TB. These factors not only increase the risk of transmission but also hinder timely diagnosis and treatment, leading to more severe disease outcomes.

Tuberculosis transmission and causes are multifaceted, involving biological, environmental, and social factors. Preventing the spread of TB requires a comprehensive approach that includes early detection, effective treatment, infection control measures, and addressing the underlying social determinants of health.
Recently, CFHI collaborated with the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP) and other relevant stakeholders to increase public awareness of the symptoms and significance of tuberculosis screening and treatment in Nigeria.
Monday Health Burst is an initiative of CFHI to address issues of basic health concern. Join us every Monday on all our social media platforms for more episodes.
 
Reference:
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tuberculosis

			
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