The fight against diarrhoea got a boost when Reckitt Benkisser, the world’s leading consumer health and hygiene company, upped its commitment to its eradication among Nigerian children. The intervention could not have come at a better time than now when the nation is battling other health challenges, such as polio, Lassa fever and HIV/AIDS. But, what are the socio-economic implications of its multi-billion naira partnership with the Federal Government to fight the scourge? Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME reports.
Unknown to many, diarrhoea is much deadlier than AIDS, malaria and measles combined as it kills 2,195 children daily. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention described diarrhoea as a common illness and a global killer. Diarrhoea accounts for one in nine child deaths worldwide, making it the second leading cause of death among children under the age of five. For children with HIV, diarrhoea is even more deadly; the death rate for these children is 11 times higher than the rate for children without HIV.
Despite the sobering statistics, strides made over the last 20 years have shown that in addition to rotavirus vaccination and breastfeeding, diarrhea prevention focused on safe water and improved hygiene and sanitation is not only possible, but cost effective: every $1 invested yields an average return of $25.50.
According to the United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF), the diarrhoea prevalence rate in Nigeria is 18.8 percent and is one of the worst in sub-Sahara Africa and above the average of 16 percent. Diarrhoea, it said, accounts for over 16 per cent of child deaths in Nigeria and an estimated 150,000 deaths mainly among children under five occur yearly. It is mainly caused by poor sanitation and hygiene practices.
Respiratory infections kill another 240,000. The body observed that trends in the past five years allow for cautious optimism that significant progress will be made in reducing the number of people globally, who practise open defecation.