https://www.unicef.org/afghanistan/stories/nothing-exists-vacuum
"It is a well-known truism that nothing exists in a vacuum – including polio.
Its spread and containment are closely bound with hygiene practices, adequate
sanitation and access to clean water. Alongside ensuring that children are in
good health and well-nourished, good hygiene and sanitation are critical for
eradicating polio. The areas of the country where the virus persists are also
areas where access to sanitation is below average - including the East Region.
In the first half of 2024, UNICEF embarked on a new pilot project in areas of
the East where water sources tested positive for polio in 2023. Specifically
conceived to tackle the transmission of the virus, the project combined
community mobilization efforts with improvements to latrines and drainage
systems.
Eastern Afghanistan is a place of great natural beauty: a landscape of plunging
river valleys bordered by great mountain ranges to the north and west. The
region’s geography is the stuff of picture books, but it also poses significant
challenges for access to basic services - including sanitation and clean water
for drinking and washing. The water table is a long way below the surface, and
sinking boreholes for clean drinking water involves jackhammering through 100
metres or more of solid rock. In some parts of the country, climate change is
causing the ground water table to drop further.
The correlation between polio and access to adequate sanitation in the East is
irrefutable. Eight children in the region have contracted polio since the start
of 2023 - all of them are from rural villages where sanitation is scant at
best."
Via
Fix the News:
https://fixthenews.com/276-regenerative-city/
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
