Reports published by two major aid agencies claim that inadequate responses to diarrhoea outbreaks by governments and the international community are placing the lives of millions of children at risk.

Millions of children contract diarrhoea every year and around 1.6 million of them die. Yet aid agencies say that the disease is completely preventable. Oliver Cumming, co-author of Water Aid's report 'Fatal Neglect' [1], says that: 'Diarrhoea kills more children than HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB combined, yet compared to these diseases receives little financing and is not prioritised by governments in donor and developing countries alike.'

The other report [2] published by health advocacy group PATH, suggests that, after successful awareness-raising and fund-raising in the 1970s and 1980s, with the result that the mortality rate fell by almost 50 percent, many donors, governments and aid agencies now seem to consider the problem solved.

Both reports claim that the problem can be tackled relatively cheaply, by promoting handwashing, the use of water purifiers and taking rehydration salts.

[1] Ross, I. and Cumming, O. (2009). Fatal neglect : how health systems are failing to comprehensively address child mortality. Lomdon, UK, WaterAid. Download here

[2] PATH (2009). Diarrheal disease :solutions to defeat a global killer. Washington, DC, USA, PATH. Download here

Related news::

• Southern Africa: risk factors for child dysentery and watery diarrhoea assessed, Source Weekly, 05 Mar 2009;
• Diarrhoea control: alternative method estimating child mortality, Source Weekly, 30 Sep 2008

Related web sites: WHO - Diarrhoea ; Rehydration Project

Source: Natasha Elkington, Reuters AlertNet, 14 May 2009

Tags: financing, hygiene promotion, water quality, water-related diseases