DefeatDD

Sink faucets. Water fountains. Bottled water. 🚰

It's easy to overlook the value of safe drinking water when it's all around us. But across the globe, 1 in 4 people lacks access to this essential resource. 💧

Safe is key to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases like diarrhea. This , go back to basics with some of our explainers on water, , and ⤵️

Why does boiling water make it safe to drink? https://www.defeatdd.org/blog/why-does-boiling-water-make-it-safe-to-drink/

How does soap actually work? https://www.defeatdd.org/blog/how-does-soap-actually-work/

Why does boiling water make it safe to drink? Boiling water and treating it with chlorine are two fast, effective ways to make water safe and prevent the spread of waterborne diseases.

Diarrhoeal diseases were once among Kenya's top child killers, with rotavirus leading the charge.

In places like Kihoto, where Lake Naivasha floods into backyards and contaminated wells, mothers would rush to clinics "with panic on their faces" as their children battled life-threatening dehydration.

This all changed in 2014, when the rotavirus vaccine was introduced nationwide in Kenya. Since then, Kenya has seen a 60-70% drop in rotavirus-related hospitalisations.

And the most important impact of all? A decade later, thousands of Kenyan children are still alive because of this vaccine.

The success has also boosted confidence in immunisation programmes nationwide, creating a ripple effect that protects against other diseases too.

Even in the most difficult settings, vaccines save lives. 💪

New evidence from shows that vaccinations have had an incredible impact from 2018 to 2024, reducing hospitalizations for young children and reinforcing the vaccine's real-world effectiveness.

Dr. Palwasha Anwari, a lead author of the study, breaks down the findings on our blog ⤵

Rotavirus vaccination in Afghanistan: Evidence of impact amid fragility - Defeat DD In fragile settings like Afghanistan, ensuring vaccine access for the most vulnerable is not just moral imperative, it is a strategic public health priority.

Despite conflict, instability, and a fragile health system, Afghanistan's commitment to rotavirus vaccines is strong.

The result: a 41% reduction in rotavirus-related hospitalizations.

More on this week's blog.

Rotavirus vaccination in Afghanistan: Evidence of impact amid fragility - Defeat DD In fragile settings like Afghanistan, ensuring vaccine access for the most vulnerable is not just moral imperative, it is a strategic public health priority.