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Ethiopia faces health challenges from El Nino: WHO

Xinhua, December 7, 2015 Adjust font size:

With Ethiopia in the grip of its worst drought over the last 30 years, the World Health Organization (WHO) Monday said the country has faced health challenges due to El Nino.

Ethiopia is one of the most affected countries by El Nino thus far. The country has experienced two poor growing seasons this year. Due to delayed rains attributed to El Nino, Ethiopia's main annual harvest saw a severe reduction in output, which has already put some 8.2 million people in urgent need of food assistance.

According to WHO, every month since January has seen an increase in the number of Ethiopian malnourished children, with estimates stating that 400, 000 children will face severe malnutrition in 2016. In addition, some 700, 000 expecting and recent mothers are at risk for severe malnutrition.

"The food security emergency is coming against a background of multiple ongoing epidemics in the country. This creates an additional burden for people's health as well as the health system as malnutrition, especially in children, predisposes them to more severe infectious disease, which can kill quickly," said Michelle Gayer, Director of WHO's Emergency Risk Management and Humanitarian Response Department.

WHO said the situation is expected to worsen over the next eight months and it will take more than one year for Ethiopia to recover. Vulnerable populations, such as children requiring therapeutic feeding and health care, are particularly at risk of illness and death.

El Nino affects rainfall patterns and temperatures in many parts of the world but most intensely in the tropical regions of Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America which are particularly vulnerable to natural hazards. Typically, some places receive more rain while others receive none causing flooding and droughts causing a variety of public health concerns.

Anticipating a major increase in health risks, WHO strengthened its response by mobilizing drugs, equipment and human resources and deployed an emergency response team to support the Ethiopian Ministry of Health and partners in coordinating the health sector response across the country.

While response plans are still being finalized, WHO estimates its initial funding request will require more than 8 million U.S. dollars. Endit