It is said, “Hygiene is two thirds of health.”
This saying underscores the essence of hygiene in maintaining good health. Simply put, poor hygiene equals poor health.
As such, when people in a particular environment live or are exposed to insanitary conditions, their health is bound to suffer.
Diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, skin infections become the order of the day.
Studies show that practices such as regular handwashing, can prevent the spread of diseases and one needs not to be told to eat nutritious food and drink clean water.
For the people in Gaza currently, getting clean water and good food is something they can only grasp in their dreams. That is if they can afford to sleep under Israeli overnight attacks.
Water, is in acute shortage, leaving people to drink contaminated water from unwholesome sources such as wells and swimming pool.
The health and sanitation in Gaza have been jeopardized by the ongoing war. It began to suffer due to Israel’s total blockade; permitting no fuel or electricity in to the enclave.
Seeing as Gaza relies on water pumping systems, water supply was cut short.
Persistent blitz on Gaza by Israel have sealed the fate of doom for Palestinians.
The World Health Organization warned has issued a warning stating that the Gaza Strip faces an increased risk of rapid spread of infectious diseases.
It said this was due to intense overcrowding and disrupted health, water, and sanitation systems.
It noted that deaths and injuries in Gaza continue to rise “due to intensified hostilities.” It added, “Some worrying trends are already emerging.”
It said that the lack of fuel in the densely populated enclave have caused desalination plants to shut down, which increased the risk of bacterial infections like diarrhoea spreading.
WHO said that more than 33,551 cases of diarrhoea have been reported since mid-October, the bulk of which among children under five.
It said the number of children affected marked a significant increase compared to an average of 2,000 cases monthly in that age group throughout 2021 and 2022.
The lack of fuel has also disrupted the collection of solid waste, which WHO said created an “environment conducive to the rapid and widespread proliferation of insects, rodents that can carry and transit diseases.”
It said that it was “almost impossible” for health facilities to maintain basic infection prevention measures, increasing the risk of infection caused by trauma, surgery and childbirth.
“Disrupted routine vaccination activities, as well as lack of medicines for treating communicable diseases, further increase the risk of accelerated disease spread,” it warned.
Contrary to international law, hospitals in Gaza are also under siege.
According to Gaza’s government media office, eight hospitals have been bombed by Israeli forces in the past three days and 18 hospitals have been out of service.
For instance, Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza has run out of fuel and shut down its key operations.
Aid For Gaza
It will not be fair to Gazans for them to continue living under insanitary conditions. The enclave needs water, food, medical supplies and all the help it can get.
The little drops of aid must be increased.
A total of 106 aid trucks and ambulances entered Gaza through the Rafah crossing on Wednesday, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society which said the supply still does not meet the enclave’s needs.
More aid, including amounts of fuel, should be allowed to enter the besieged territory to alleviate worsening conditions.
Palestinian mothers sheltering in schools and hospitals in central Gaza have made reports of their children being dehydrated and severely underweight. If help does not reach them, these children will add to the death tolls.
“He who has health, has hope; and he who has hope, has everything.”
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