Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) Eastern Africa ’s Post

Over the last two years, Malawi recorded one of the deadliest cholera outbreaks in decades. Cholera is an entirely preventable disease when adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene services and systems are in place. We’ve outlined a few ways to prevent epidemics like this: enhancing infrastructure, flexible funding, and protecting water sources. Learn more about each of these and their impact on public health: https://ow.ly/94kY50Uvlr2

Supporting government-led awareness campaigns is key to eliminating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Pakistan. Diseases like 𝗗𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗲, 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗸𝘂𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗻𝘆𝗮, 𝗟𝗲𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗮𝗲𝗴𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮 continue to affect vulnerable communities due to lack of awareness, poor sanitation, and climate factors. By strengthening prevention efforts, improving healthcare access, and spreading awareness, we can help Pakistan fight the burden of NTDs. Let’s stand with public health initiatives and work towards a disease-free future! . . . .. . . #WorldNTDDay2025 #UniteActEliminate #SupportAwareness #PublicHealthPakistan #EndNTDs #HealthForAll #publichealthinititatives #islamabadhospitals #dengueawareness #neglectedtropicaldisease2025

A community-led approach in three villages in Paoua District, Central African Republic is addressing the risk of diseases from open defecation and poor hygiene conditions. Through awareness-raising activities with the community and the distribution of hygiene kits, MENTOR aims to support behaviour changes necessary for sustainable improvements to sanitation and disease prevention. A lack of access to basic sanitation services in the region creates a higher risk of epidemics and is a major public health issue for communities living here. Funded by UK aid, the programme involves working with families to build latrines and use hygiene kits. It aims to reach 250 households across the district. Dr Patricia Bea Pambu Mbenza, MENTOR Medical Coordinator, spoke to Mrs Koutou Agnès, a farmer and mother of five children living in Bétokomia who built a latrine for her family. She said: “This family decided to dig a latrine behind their house because they realised they were endangering the health of the whole family by practicing open defecation in the vicinity of their household. Through awareness-raising sessions, this family became aware that poor sanitation and hygiene was the cause of the diarrhoeal diseases from which their family suffered at times, and which could ultimately lead to malnutrition in children.” Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office #CentralAfricanRepublic #sanitation #community #hygiene #diseaseprevention #humanitarian #wash #malnutrition

The cholera outbreak in Nigeria highlights the urgent need for improved access to #CleanWaterandSanitation. By investing in clean water, sanitation facilities, and hygiene education, we can protect communities from diseases and promote overall health and wellbeing. #ShadesofUs

JOIN THE FIGHT AGAINST CHOLERA✊ In the last few days, Cholera has been spreading at an alarming rate in Nigeria, putting lives at risk. This waterborne disease is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, which produces a deadly toxin that triggers a biochemical cascade leading to: 🦠Excessive diarrhea and vomiting 🦠Severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalance 🦠Life-threatening complications if left untreated The situation is dire, and we must join forces to prevent further spread of the disease. ◽Prioritize good hygiene practices: Wash your hands frequently with soap and clean water, and ensure your food and water are safe. ◽Support public health initiatives: Share information, resources, and expertise to contain the outbreak. ◽Advocate for improved sanitation and waste management: Let's work together to create a cleaner, healthier environment. Let's work together to contain the Cholera outbreak in Nigeria! #CholeraOutbreak #Nigeria #PublicHealthEmergency #Healthcare #SanitationMatters #HygieneIsKey #HealthForAll Oluwafemi Emaye Emmanuel Ojo SCIENCOON Exploring the World of Science Kolawole Abejide Federal University of Technology Akure

Neglected tropical diseases are often associated with disadvantaged environments and unsanitary living conditions. However, hand hygiene can play a crucial role in preventing their spread. Indeed, appropriate hand hygiene practices, such as frequent washing with soap and clean water, can significantly reduce the risk of transmission of these diseases. Devices enabling handwashing must be implemented in homes, public places, services, in short, everywhere. Additionally, vigilance and reminders must be maintained permanently. It is crucial to be aware of the significant impacts that simple hygiene practices can have, especially in preventing neglected tropical diseases. By taking care of our hands, we can contribute to reducing the burden of these diseases, thus improving the health and well-being of the most vulnerable communities. Moreover, investing in sustainable hand hygiene practices can have long-term benefits by reducing healthcare costs associated with the treatment of neglected tropical diseases.#HygièneDesMains #PréventionDesMaladies #SantéPublique #MaladiesTropicales #SavonEtEauPropre #BienêtreCommunautaire #EnvironnementsDéfavorisés #LutteContreLesMaladies #HygiènePublique #SantéPréventive #SensibilisationSanitaireDAHWDAHW German Leprosy and Tuberculosis Relief AssociationDahw SENEGAL

📢 New Publication Alert! 📢 I am honored to announce the publication of our article, "Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene insecurity and infectious disease outbreaks among internally displaced populations in Gaza: implications of conflict-driven displacement on public health," in the Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development. This research, co-authored with Dr. Kate Zinszer, delves into the harsh realities faced by displaced populations in Gaza, where inadequate access to clean water and sanitation compounds the spread of infectious diseases. Despite the relentless challenges on the ground, from resource scarcity to continuous displacement, this study sheds light on the direct health impacts of WaSH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) insecurity. Through a mixed-methods approach involving both a cross-sectional survey of 1,500 displaced persons and in-depth interviews, we found high rates of infectious diseases among those displaced, with diarrhea and respiratory infections among the most prevalent. The insights gathered highlight both the urgent need for humanitarian intervention and the resilience of those coping with extreme WaSH-related challenges. Key Findings Include: - High incidence of diarrhea (24.9%) and respiratory infections (49.3%) among the displaced population. - Additional health issues like skin rash, scabies, and acute viral hepatitis due to inadequate WaSH facilities. - Psychological distress as a direct result of the ongoing WaSH crisis. 🔗 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dtSDhpKV Thank you to everyone who supported this work and continues to advocate for improved public health conditions in conflict-affected regions. This research serves as a call to action to address the urgent health risks facing vulnerable communities and ensure the fundamental human right to clean water and sanitation. #publichealth #WaSH #Gaza #humanitarianresponse #infectiousdisease #newresearch

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of 21+ conditions that are widespread in the world’s poorest regions where water safety, sanitation and access to health care are inadequate or suboptimal. Let’s join hands to create better awareness on the devastating impact of NTDs to control, eliminate and eradicate them. #Zydus #ZydusGroup #NTDs #NeglectedTropicalDiseases

The Marburg Virus and the Dualiness of Preparedness / Readiness Measures The recent Marburg virus outbreak in Kigali is causing significant concern due to its rapid spread, as evidenced by multiple hospital outbreaks across the country. Advanced containment measures, such as restrictions on funerals, are already in place to curb the virus's transmission. As a professional firm specializing in crisis management, we express our concern over the lack of implementation of the World Health Organization's new readiness measures, which go beyond mere preparedness for epidemics and pandemics. This situation highlights a critical gap in scaling healthcare capacities during pandemic emergencies—a lesson that should have been learned from past experiences. It is imperative that we move towards a more proactive approach in epidemic and pandemic management by not only preparing but also ensuring readiness and scalability in our healthcare systems. This will enable a more effective response to future health crises. Let's work together to advocate for these essential changes and ensure that our global health systems are better equipped to handle such emergencies. #MarburgVirus #KigaliOutbreak #PublicHealth #VirusContainment #HospitalOutbreaks #HealthSafety #CBRNe #Bio #Biodefense #Biosecurity #Biodefense #CrisisMgmt #CrisisManagementh