Yemen: Dengue epidemic kills
scores of vulnerable children
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| The ongoing conflict in Yemen impacts clean water distribution and medicine delivery (ANSA) |
Save the Children is sounding the alarm following the deaths
in Yemen of around 78 children from dengue-related diseases, and reports of
over 52,000 suspected cases.
By Vatican News
Dengue is a viral disease carried by mosquitos. It causes
high fever and, among younger children, even death.
According to a statement issued this week by the
international organization, Save the Children, there are fears of a real
epidemic of the disease in Yemen where around 78 children under the age of 16
have died as a result of dengue-related illnesses. In addition, over 52,000
suspected cases have been registered across the country.
Heavy rainfall, along with the ongoing fighting in Yemen,
has hindered access to supplies of clean water. The local population is obliged
to use open reservoirs and rainwater catchments that often end up as breeding
grounds for mosquitos – particularly the Aedes aegypti mosquito
that spreads the dengue virus.
The World Health Organization estimates that the incidence
of dengue has increased 30-fold over the last 50 years.
Ongoing conflict affects healthcare and delivery of
medicines
Because of the conflict in Yemen, the situation is so
precarious, families often cannot afford to take their children to hospital for
treatment, or to purchase medicines. Even if they do get there, most
health-care facilities are overflowing and patients are left to lie on the
floor.
After nearly five years of fighting in the country, over
half of all healthcare facilities are closed or only partially functioning.
Hospitals have been damaged by airstrikes, skilled personnel are severely
lacking.
According to the statement by Save the Children, only peace
in Yemen can guarantee rapid responses and the reconstruction of the collapsing
healthcare system, in a country where preventable diseases continue to spread
and which is still recovering from a cholera epidemic that has caused over 2
million suspected cases in the last three years.
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