GLOBAL 8TH:

Diarrheal diseases were the eighth-leading cause of death globally, according to study by the World
Health Organization. 1.5 million deaths were reported in 2019 and 2.6 million since 2000 [1]. The most
common causes of diarrheal diseases are viral and bacterial infections. Even though bacterial infections
are the predominant class of organisms responsible for diarrheal illnesses, the rotavirus is their primary
cause.

A data showed that the death rate from diarrheal diseases is highest in impoverished regions as
compared to the high-income countries. The data only presents the relationship between the death rate
caused by diarrheal diseases and the country’s average income which is crucial in this global health
issue. The diarrheal in low-income nations, account for a greater percentage of fatalities than other
causes. Among the list of vulnerable countries includes- Sahara Africa, Madagascar, Chad, and South
Asia [2]. These countries have various factors that are susceptive of these diseases, as this disease is
often focused in areas with marginalized and low-income citizens. According to a study of The Lancet,
diarrheal diseases are caused by undernutrition, poor sanitation, health care, and lack of access to clean
water and to this day, it is still one of the world’s leading causes of death [3].

[1] These are the top 10 global causes of death - but two diseases are in decline. World Economic
Forum. (n.d.). Retrieved August 16, 2022, from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/02/top-10-
global-causes-death/

[2] Dadonaite, B., Ritchie, H., & Roser, M. (2018, November 1). Diarrheal diseases. Our World in
Data. Retrieved August 16, 2022, from https://ourworldindata.org/diarrheal-diseases

[3] Sowards, W. (2018, November 13). Will sowards. Passport Health. Retrieved August 16, 2022, from
https://www.passporthealthusa.com/2018/11/diarrhea-is-still-one-of-the-worlds-leading-causes-of-
death/
LOCAL 8TH:

According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report, the Philippines had the highest TB
incidence in Asia in 2019 with 554 cases per 100,000 people. In the Philippines, tuberculosis (TB) is
ranked 8th on the top 10 killers, taking the lives of about 74 people every day [1]. Mycobacterium
tuberculosis is the bacteria that causes pulmonary tuberculosis (M tuberculosis). It spreads easily when
someone has TB. This indicates that the bacteria are easily transmitted from an infected individual to
another. You can contract tuberculosis (TB) by inhaling airborne droplets from an infected person's
cough or sneeze. [2]

Filipinos face many risk factors for latent TB infection and TB disease, including poverty and lack of
access to quality healthcare [1]. Based on the World Health Organization's World Health Report, more
than one-third of all Filipinos live below the poverty line, and the problem of tuberculosis is particularly
acute in poorer areas. In the slums of this country, 39% of children aged 5 to her 9 are already infected,
twice the national average[3]. Cramped and overcrowded housing, poor ventilation, weakened immune
systems due to malnutrition, delayed diagnosis and expensive medicines all contribute to the high
incidence of TB [1].

References:

[1] Decline in reported TB cases an effect of the pandemic - DOH: Department of Health Website. DOH.
(n.d.). Retrieved August 16, 2022, from https://doh.gov.ph/press-release/DECLINE-IN-REPORTED-TB-
CASES-AN-EFFECT-OF-THE-PANDEMIC-DOH

[2] Manangan, L. P., Salibay, C. J.-as, Wallace, R. M. L., Kammerer, S., Pratt, R., McAllister, L., &
Robison, V. (2011, January). Tuberculosis among persons born in the Philippines and living in the United
States, 2000-2007. American journal of public health. Retrieved August 16, 2022, from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3000726/

[3] Wallerstein, C. (1999, August 14). Tuberculosis ravages Philippine slums. BMJ (Clinical research ed.).
Retrieved August 16, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1127037/