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Relationship Between Water and Global Health Problems
As a matter of fact, the sufficient, continuous, and affordable availability of safe water for drinking and other purposes, including domestic use and food production, plays a highly essential role in the control and prevention of global health problems. In turn, poor sanitation and inappropriately managed water expose people to substantial health risks. First of all, water contaminated by microbes or pathogens and food produce along with a lack of hand hygiene leads to the transmission of multiple diseases, including diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis A, cholera, polio, and typhoid ( Drinking-water, 2022). In addition, the safety of water is one of the key factors of quality health care delivery in medical facilities. In turn, according to the World Health Organization, approximately 15% of patients develop an infection during a hospital stay due to the lack of water sanitation and hygiene services ( Drinking-water, 2022, para. 6).
Peoples health may be affected by chemically polluted drinking-water received in the result of inadequate management of agricultural, industrial, and urban wastewater (WHO, 2022). Some chemicals may appear in the water due to the failure of equipment for water supply. Even chemicals that are present in groundwater naturally may cause health issues. In addition, water is a habitat and a breeding ground for living creatures that may transmit severe diseases, such as schistosomiasis and dengue fever.
Cholera
One of specific global health problems related to water and food that deserves particular attention is cholera. It is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholera ( Cholera, 2022, para. 1). The manifestation of cholera is acute watery diarrhoea and related severe dehydration. The importance of this diseases addressing is determined by its danger for human health and life if left untreated, this water-related illness may cause death. It is a disturbing problem, especially in developing countries with poor sanitation and hygiene services. According to the World Health Organization, up to 4 million cases of this disease are registered worldwide every year with more than 140,000 deaths ( Cholera, 2022).
Determinants of Cholera
The first determinant of cholera is improper sewage disposal that causes the contamination of water supplies and the inaccessibility of safe water. As a result, people will be infected not only by drinking water but by eating food that was produced with the use of contaminated water as well (CDC, 2020). Even fruit and vegetables may be the source of cholera if they were grown with water that contained human waste. This factor may be frequently observed in developing countries with a high poverty level, poor economic development, or affected by environmental disasters or social events that lead to the absence of disease surveillance.
The second determinant of this disease is poor sanitation and lack of hand hygiene. Cholera is traditionally spread through drinking water or eating food that was contaminated with Vibrio cholera located in fecal matter. Thus, if an infected person does not wash hands after visiting the bathroom, they may spread cholera causing its outbreak through the contact with water sources and food. This determinant is typical for areas without access to toilets, outhouses, and other sanitation services. The absence of hand hygiene and defecation in the open environment leads to the spread of the disease.
The third determinant is less spread, however, in combination with previous ones, it may lead to the outbreak of cholera, as well. It is an environmental, or natural, source of cholera in marine waters, the bacteria are easily attached to the shells of shrimps, crabs, and other shellfish (CDC, 2020). Eaten undercooked or raw, they may cause human infections.
Impact of Climate Change
There is multiple evidence that climate change has a direct impact on the spread of cholera. In general, climate change is associated with the temperature rising that leads to the change of climate patterns across the globe causing natural disasters, such as draught and floods. First of all, high temperatures and low precipitation are associated with a more rapid bacteria replication. In addition, a decreased water level is associated with increased salinity that also contributes to the growth of Vibrio cholera. If draught will be followed by intensive rainfalls and floods, massive amounts of water will be contaminated. In the areas with the absence of water sanitation and poor hygiene services, it will cause the epidemic of cholera. Apart from that, natural disaster may lead to the failure of equipment for water supply and sanitation that will impose risks to its safety as well.
Potential Solutions
The World Health Organization states that the prevention and control over cholera outbreaks require a multifaceted approach that should include disease surveillance, hygiene practices and education, water sanitation interventions, social mobilization, cholera vaccination, and treatment ( Cholera, 2022). Under the International Health Regulations, the international community and countries vulnerable to water-related illnesses should strengthen disease surveillance to provide time-sensitive response in the case of their outbreaks ( Cholera, 2022). In cholera hotspots, access to safe water, basic sanitation, and education in relation to hygiene practices should be provided. In addition, these measures require community engagement for the most efficient promotion and interventions on the basis of peoples cultural peculiarities. The responsive measures should be included in emergency response to prepare people and prevent the outbreak of this disease in the case of natural disasters.
References
Cholera. (2022). WHO. Web.
CDC. (2020). Cholera: Sources of infection & risk factors.
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