Infectious Diarrhea

Infectious diarrhea is the second leading cause of death in children worldwide, killing an average of 760,000 children under the age of five and affecting as many as 1.7 billion people every year (WHO, 2013). Seeing as this disease is easily preventable and treatable, but still accounts for a sizable percentage of childhood deaths, many countries and organizations have attempted to develop programs over the past decade in an attempt to eliminate this deadly infection. Unfortunately these programs were to little avail. In order to effectively eradicate this infection, the people need to be informed in all matters surrounding infectious diarrhea, including its causes and how to prevent it. Communities affected by infectious diarrhea also need
Mexico, for example, recently created the National Institute for the Public Health of Mexico (INSP) which focuses on the education of the Mexican people regarding public health issues. This institute goes out into the communities in Mexico and teaches the people how to take care of themselves and how to prevent disease. Since the INSPs creation in 1986, the lifespan from birth of the average Mexican has increased from 69 years to 77 years. The mortality trend in the under five age group has also decreased exponentially during this time period. Through the expertise and the help of the INSP, the majority of the deaths in Mexico are now non-communicable diseases (Pizzorno, 2016). This same program can be put to use in other developing countries. With the help of a government sponsored program that goes out and informs the country's impoverished people how to care for themselves and how to prevent communicable diseases like diarrheal infections. The government should also invest in a more reliable sanitation
Unfortunately, this does not seem to be enough. Hundreds of thousands of children die every year from diarrheal infections. A disease that is easily treatable and preventable for almost no cost. The main problem is lack of knowledge of the people in developing worlds. It is time for the government to step in, follow the examples of other countries like Mexico, and create a plan for teaching it’s citizens about this terrible and unnecessary disease. Hopefully with the increase of knowledge and sanitation, we can effectively decrease the childhood mortality and morbidity rates in the developing