By Gom Mirian
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that Africa needs $178 million US dollars to address its rising challenges of hunger and health crisis.
WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who disclosed this on Saturday on his Twitter handle, said 53 million people, one in six, were facing crisis levels of hunger in Africa.
Ghebreyesus said in the first half of this year, heavy downpours on the baked earth have caused flash floods in parts of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia, and displaced thousands of people.
According to him, floods have increased the risk of water and mosquito-borne diseases in the region already impacted by malaria, cholera, and other infectious diseases.
“WHO and partners are on the ground, ensuring access to basic health services, providing treatment to severely malnourished children, and helping countries detect, prevent and respond to disease outbreaks.
“But a lack of resources is hindering our response. under our health emergency appeal for 2023, WHO is asking for 178 million US dollars to enable us to deliver urgently needed, life-saving medical aid. We face critical funding gaps, and we urge donors to be generous,” he added.
