Cholera through a gender lens

Safe water and sanitation are public health basics the nation requires to overcome cholera and other waterborne diseases during the rainy season.

However, the country requires collaborative efforts to keep water safe for everyone, including those with no access to potable water.

However, gaps in access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene persist.

In the past decade, Malawi has been hit hard by cholera outbreaks, including the current wave which has claimed about 600 lives from over 16 000 known patients.

This proves that more needs to be done to provide safe water, sanitation and hygiene for all in line with the global Sustainable Development Goal six (SDG6) adopted by world leaders in 2015.

On the flip side, women and girls tend to suffer more from issues associated with breakdowns in access to water and sanitation.

Thus it is imperative to look at the raging cholera outbreak from a gender standpoint.

In our male-dominated society, it is the norm that health and hygiene issues are mostly left to women and girls as caregivers.

Now society, including national and community leaders, must come up with deliberate initiatives that promote and engage women and girls to unearth their unique needs and vulnerabilities. 

Water, sanitation and hygiene are not only crucial to the well-being of our citizens, but also contribute to livelihoods, school attendance and dignity.

The three basics help create resilient communities living in wholesome environments.

The impact of good health on education cannot be overstated.

As earlier stated, women and girls often bear the brunt of infections fuelled by breakdowns in sanitation and hygiene. They either take care of people suffering from preventable diseases or are themselves taken ill.

This impacts their education and productivity as they are frequently absent themselves from school and productive work. Some drop out.

This is also the case with female teachers. Sanitation-related infections affect their work output.

If we embrace the concept of inclusion in the fight against water sanitation and hygiene issues, both men and women will take responsibility for the health and hygiene of all citizens.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that sustainable development cannot be achieved without safe water, sanitation and hygiene accessible to all citizens.

Health and hygiene remain a pivot on which all aspects of sustainable development rotate.

According to WHO, 829 000 people die from diarrhoea every year as a result of unsafe water as well as poor sanitation and hygiene.

Heathy citizens contribute positively to national development.

Just like any other, public health requires gender equality and equity.

We need to advocate gender balance and inclusion.

Both men and women must take responsibility for public sanitation and hygiene.

We must move swiftly to improve access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene, including proper waste management and cleaning in healthcare facilities and schools.

Without safely managed water, sanitation and hygiene services, women and girls are more susceptible to exploitation, harm and ill health.

This impacts their schooling, work and self-esteem.

Improvements to water, sanitation and hygiene at home, school, work and in public spaces support gender equity.

Women and girls must play a central role in devising and employing solutions so that services respond to their specific needs.

Neglecting women and girls in health issues slows down strides to achieve the 2030 Agenda for equitable and universal access to quality education, health care and social protection.

SDG6, which promotes access to safe water and sanitation for all, is a human rights issue.

When women and girls are denied these rights, their health is profoundly affected, curtailing their educational and economic opportunities. This restricts their full potential and role in society.