Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 20th May. UN health experts on Friday warned that after years of steady decline, cholera is making a devastating comeback and targeted the world’s most vulnerable communities.
WHO, UNICEF in a new report said that more countries face outbreaks, increasing numbers of cases are being reported and the outcome for patients is worse than 10 years ago.
Jérôme Pfaffmann Zambruni, Head of UNICEF’s Public Health Emergency unit said that “The pandemic is killing the poor right in front of us,”.
Henry Gray, WHO’s Incident Manager for the global cholera response echoed the bleak outlook, WHO data indicated that by May last year, 15 countries had reported cases, but by mid-May this year “we already have 24 countries reporting and we anticipate more with the seasonal shift in cholera cases.”.
“Despite advances in the control of the disease made in the previous decades we risk going backwards.”
WHO estimated that one billion people in 43 countries are at risk of cholera with children under five particularly vulnerable.
Cholera’s extraordinarily high mortality ratio is alarming. Malawi and Nigeria registered case fatality rates as high as three per cent this year, well above the acceptable one per cent, WHO reported
WHO said that Southeastern Africa is badly affected, with infections spreading in Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Cyclone Freddy in February and March this year, left 800,000 people in Malawi and Mozambique internally displaced and disrupting healthcare.
The agency said these vulnerable communities are at high risk of cholera which thrives in areas affected by heavy rains and floods.
Both agencies agreed that a deadly combination of climate change, underinvestment in water, sanitation and hygiene services and in some cases armed conflict has led to the spread of the disease.
The vaccines exist to protect against cholera, supply is insufficient to face the increasing demand.
According to the WHO, 18 million doses of vaccines have been requested globally, but only 8 million have been made available.
“Increasing the production is not an overnight solution,” said Mr. Gray.
“The plan is to double the production of doses by 2025, but we won’t have enough if the current trend continues. Vaccine is a tool, but not an overall solution. Long term investment in water sanitation is the priority,” he added.
UNICEF stated “Not only (do) we need long term investments, but immediate investments in the water system to ensure access to clean water, sanitation, and dignity,” said Mr. Zambruni.
WHO is launching a 12-month Strategic Preparedness, Response and Readiness Plan, requiring $160 million with UNICEF’s Call to Action for $480 million.
They said combined cholera response plan will cover 40 countries in acute crisis.
It will include coordination, infection surveillance and prevention, vaccination, treatment, and water, sanitation and hygiene.
Mr. Gray said “We need the funds to do what we need to do,” UN agencies work closely together.
