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International Health and Poverty

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Relevant Health & Poverty Statistics

There are 2.2 billion children in the world and 1 billion of these children live in poverty. That is every second child.

Source: https://www.unicef.org/sowc05/english/childhoodunderthreat.html

Over 300 million children worldwide have never had one pair of shoes. One in six African children dies before the age of five. Most of these deaths can be prevented by better health. Although providing shoes for children in developing countries may not seem like a priority to families on tight budgets in the UK, donating unused shoes can dramatically improve a child’s quality of life.

Through collection points throughout the UK Dr Foot sources thousands of pairs of unwanted and unused shoes donated by the public. Since children’s feet continue to grow until about 18 years, most of the shoes collected will be for babies, children and young people. Many of these shoes would be in almost new condition.

These shoes are then sorted and distributed to our International partners who are working in area of most need across the developing world. Our partners guarantee that all donated shoes are sent directly those in most need.

Many children walk barefooted in places such as Kenya and Tanzania. Wearing shoes helps prevent the spread of parasitic diseases that plague an estimated 1 billion people worldwide-they are a basic human necessity. The reality of life for many individuals in impoverished parts of Africa, Asia and South America is that shoes are a rarity. It is not uncommon for children to grow up in these areas without ever having had a pair of new shoes - or any shoes at all.

 

Disease

Podoconiosis

Podoconiosis (or simply ‘podo’) is a form of elephantiasis or swelling of the lower leg triggered by prolonged exposure to irritant minerals in red clay soils. There is no infectious or contagious agent: no parasite, no bacterium, no virus is involved. It was classified as a Neglected Tropical Disease by the World Health Organisation in 2011.

An estimated 4 million people in highland tropical Africa are affected with podoconiosis and evidence suggests widespread endemicity in more than 15 countries throughout the world.

Although the disease is both preventable (by avoiding contact with irritant soil) and treatable (through simple, inexpensive foot hygiene, shoes and protection), there are as yet no government-backed assistance programmes for addressing prevention and treatment of podoconiosis.

Individuals afflicted with podoconiosis suffer debilitating physical effects, including attacks when the leg becomes warm, painful and even more swollen. These individuals are then ostracised from their communities because of misconceptions about the cause of podoconiosis.

You can read more about this important public health problem at: https://www.podo.org/


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Picture of Ethiopian farmer affected with Podoconiosis

 

Helminths

Soil-transmitted helminths refer to the intestinal worms infecting humans that are transmitted through contaminated soil which can be prevented by shoes. (‘helminth’ means parasitic worm): Ascaris lumbricoides (sometimes called just ‘Ascaris’), whipworm (Trichuris trichiura), and hookworm (Anclostoma duodenale and Necator americanus). A large part of the world's population is infected with one or more of these soil-transmitted helminths:

  • approximately 807-1,121 million with Ascaris
  • approximately 604-795 million with whipworm
  • approximately 576-740 million with hookworm

Soil-transmitted helminth infection is found mainly in areas with warm and moist climates where sanitation and hygiene are poor, including in temperate zones during warmer months. These STHs are considered Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) because they inflict tremendous disability and suffering yet can be controlled or eliminated.

An estimated 576-740 million people in the world are infected with hookworm. Hookworm was widespread in the southeastern United States until the early 20th century but is now nearly eliminated. Hookworm, Ascaris and whipworm are known as soil-transmitted helminths (parasitic worms). Together they account for a major burden of disease worldwide.

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/sth/
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African Child ( Pix source: LagosCityPhotos)