A group of women sit on benches in a waiting area, each holding a young child. The background features several posted notices on the wall. A healthcare worker bends over a table on the right side of the image.
A person in a blue apron prepares a syringe, drawing liquid from a small vial indoors. The focus is on the hands and the vial. The background is softly blurred, with a door in the distance.
Dec 04, 2024

The health and economic benefits of investing in new vaccines for diarrheal diseases

We estimate the potential economic impact of vaccines using a metric called societal net monetary benefits.
A cartoon shows a toilet wearing a superhero cape and a syringe in a mask high-fiving. Text reads "Tag Team Against Outbreaks," "Toilets and vaccines prevent diarrhea!" and hashtags #WorldToiletDay and #DefeatDD. Logos for PATH and Poo and Pee are included.
Nov 15, 2024

We can defeat diarrhea outbreaks if we prepare for them

We get it. Things feel heavy right now. Heartbreaking conflict. Record-breaking heat. Economic hardship. In enduring these things, children suffer the most: according to UNICEF, diarrhea kills more children in conflict settings than violence. Climate...
The image is split into two sections: on the left, a girl with a floral headband looks through a microscope. On the right, a girl wearing glasses and a school uniform is washing her hands with soap in a bathroom.
Oct 15, 2024

Why do we wash our hands with soap and water?

” After seeing the germs, handwashing has become fun for me. ” – Irina Naher Raduga, 9, Bangladesh. Photo: PATH/Maksudur Rahman My wife and I always remind our daughter to wash her hands throughout the day, especially after playing with...
Rickshaws navigate a flooded street in an urban area, with colorful buildings and shops in the background. Pedestrians walk nearby, and a tree stands in the foreground, partially painted white and red.
Oct 09, 2024

What can neighbor countries do to prevent diarrheal diseases caused by floods?

As there is no such thing as national borders in nature, countries must look beyond these jurisdictions to prepare for flooding and manage the risk of diarrheal diseases.
Illustration showing purple bacteria labeled "Shigella" with text stating it's a severe, increasingly drug-resistant cause of diarrhea. The background is dark with abstract curvy shapes, and "DefeatDD" is visible at the bottom left.
Sep 24, 2024

Drug resistant diarrheal disease: a journey

Drug resistance is a major global health challenge, and it continues to worsen. A problem with many causes, rising drug resistance has placed an increasing burden on global health and children are among those shouldering the consequences. How th...
Sep 18, 2024

Drug resistance: what is it and what can we do

School pupils Ashley and Liz stop on their way from school to drink and wash their faces with water from an aquifer that serves the domestic water needs for several homesteads at a rural village in Kenya. Sources for clean drinking water are essentia...
Flowchart titled "Diarrhea and Malnutrition: A Relentless Loop." It shows a cycle: Chronic Diarrheal Disease leads to Gut Damage, then to Malnutrition, then to Impaired Immune Response, circling back to Chronic Diarrheal Disease. Causes include unsafe water, poor hygiene, and pathogens.
Sep 04, 2024

What does nutrition have to do with diarrhea?

We all know that the food we eat impacts our health: good, nutritious foods mean a strong and healthy body. But there is more to it – nutrition plays a vital role in child health and impacts the risk of diarrheal disease. Diarrhea is one ...
Illustration of an oral cholera vaccine on a shield, symbolizing protection. Surrounding are sketches of informal settlements, displacement camps, and natural disaster recovery. Text: "Oral Cholera Vaccine = immediate protection against outbreaks.
Aug 27, 2024

Preventing the cycle of monsoon floods and cholera through vaccines and safe water

The summer monsoon season in Asia, known for heavy rainfall that often leads to flooding, has reached new heights in countries like India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. These floods contribute to the outbreak of diarrheal diseases. ...
In a rural setting, a woman weighs a baby on a hanging scale, using a bright red cloth. Several women and children dressed in traditional, colorful clothing observe the process. Lush green plants and simple structures are visible in the background.
Aug 07, 2024

Unintended consequences: When hygiene programs burden women

Primary care in a Kaqchikel Maya community in rural Guatemala, checking monthly growth of infants.   
A group of five adults stands in front of a colorful balloon arch at a festive event. The arch features balloons in various shapes and colors, including flowers, stars, and swirls. All are smiling and holding props, and one person is wearing a backpack.
Jul 24, 2024

Five and Thrive!

The DefeatDD team celebrated a global health success story – more children than ever are reaching their fifth birthday!