As of 31 December 2020, 1,074,993 people1 have been internally displaced in Burkina Faso. The majority of these people have been recorded as living in the Sahel, Centre-Nord, Nord and Est regions, which are also the areas most affected by violence. The arrival of these displaced people in host areas has increased the demand for water, healthcare, food and shelter. MSF teams are providing healthcare, as well as working on improving clean water supply through emergency water trucking. However unsustainable long-term, this technique is currently the most common way of ensuring drinking water supply in the region. But in spite of these efforts, the demand for good quality water far outweighs the supply, which has disastrous consequences on these people’s health and lives.
In September 2020 in the Barsalogho health district, MSF has supported local healthcare teams in treating people with febrile jaundice, which was later confirmed as being hepatitis E. A 2-step intervention strategy was then put in place to limit the spread of the epidemic. Firstly, people in the communities were screened for the disease and advised on hygiene measures to follow. This allowed community workers to refer more than 470 people to healthcare centres. Between July 2020 and January 2021, MSF has treated 728 people suffering from hepatitis E, including 326 men and 402 women. Secondly, beside healthcare, MSF has provided logistical support regarding water, sanitation and hygiene in the areas of the city hardest hit by the epidemic.
In order to address waterborne disease risks, hygiene, sanitation and access to clean water are as pressing and important as healthcare itself.