Young children most at risk from deadly cholera epidemic in southern Africa

A healthcare worker tends to a new patient at a temporary cholera treatment center in a Lilongwe hospital

WORLD

Young children most at risk from deadly cholera epidemic in southern Africa

UNICEF warns that those hardest-hit by a cholera epidemic in eastern and southern Africa are the poor, and says young children are especially at risk.

By Linda Bordoni

Southern Africa's deadly cholera outbreak has spread to eleven countries. Almost 68,000 cases have been reported, including 1,790 deaths, in the past year.

Two of the countries with the heaviest burden — Malawi and Mozambique — have a combined total of more than 5.4 million people in need of support, including over 2.8 million children.

UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund says that it's especially the children under the age of five who are in danger, as cholera, which is mainly spread by contaminated food or water can cause acute diarrhoea that can kill within hours if untreated.

A child is treated at a temporary cholera treatment centre in Lilongwe

It notes that in a country like Malawi where more than 1,600 people died of the disease over the last year, one in three households lacks access to safe drinking water and is forced to get water supplies from contaminated rivers.

Women wash clothes in a contaminated river in Malawi

Neighbouring Mozambique, also one of the world’s poorest and least developed nations, is also severely affected with a total of more than 5.4 million people in need of support.

Whatsmore, UNICEF points out, actual figures are likely higher as limitations in surveillance systems, underreporting, and stigma hamper monitoring.

Speaking at an Emergency Ministerial meeting in Malawi’s capital Lilongwe, UNICEF Deputy Regional Director Lieke van de Wiel, appealed for support.

“Poor water and sanitation, extreme weather events, ongoing conflicts, and weak health systems are compounding and endangering the lives of children across southern Africa.”

van de Wiel warned that all signs of the crisis point to "this getting much worse before it gets better,” and said urgent and sustained investment is needed to respond to the outbreaks and strengthen systems and communities to be better prepared for what are likely to be more severe occurrences in the future.”.

He noted that ongoing tropical storms that cause substantial flooding and displacement create conditions ripe for outbreaks to spread as people migrate to escape the devastation.

Appeal

Due to the rapidly deteriorating situation, the UN Children’s Fund and its partners are providing essential medical supplies and emergency care. UNICEF has launched an appeal for US $150 million for all 11 cholera outbreak countries in the region that has been experiencing extreme weather events in the past months.

Last month, WHO warned that 22 countries around the world are currently fighting cholera outbreaks – a number that has since increased following additional outbreaks. After years of declining cases of cholera globally, cases went up last year and were expected to continue to do so this year.