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Global Health Econ Sustain Global South: Healthier lives with UVC

the Global South. Consolidated findings from these is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide,
studies are presented to elucidate the key challenges disproportionately affecting the Global South (Fischer
and opportunities in addressing waterborne diseases Walker et al., 2012; World Health Organization [WHO],
in the Global South. By identifying the underlying 2020). Cholera and typhoid fever are among the most
factors contributing to the burden of waterborne prevalent diarrheal diseases related to the transmission
diseases and examining successful interventions, of waterborne pathogens to humans (Centers for Disease
policymakers, and public health practitioners can Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging
formulate evidence-based strategies to prevent and and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Division
control these diseases, ultimately improving the health of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases,
and well-being of populations in the Global South. 2020). Human consumption of water contaminated with
(ii) The use of light-emitting diode (LED) technology microbial pathogens is intricately linked to pervasive
to enhance life quality, public health, and economic challenges in the Global South, including inadequate
outcomes by combating waterborne diseases in the access to safe drinking water, poor sanitation facilities, and
Global South, mainly through ultraviolet-C (UVC) malnutrition (Domman et al., 2020; US EPA, 2017).
LEDs’ efficiency and safety in water disinfection. The impact of waterborne diseases in the Global South
These compact, low-voltage devices emit UVC light is profound, affecting individuals, communities, and the
(Martín-Sómer et al., 2023), which has germicidal entire economy. There are 2.4 billion people globally who
properties capable of inactivating a wide range of lack access to basic sanitation facilities, contributing to
waterborne pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and poor water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) conditions
protozoa. Implementing UVC LED water treatment and promoting the transmission of waterborne pathogens
systems can be particularly beneficial in regions responsible for many dangerous diarrheal diseases.
with limited access to clean water and inadequate Diarrheal diseases are estimated to cause 485,000
sanitation facilities, where waterborne diseases pose deaths worldwide annually (WHO, 2022). However,
significant health risks. By employing UVC LEDs for approximately 88% of diarrhea-associated deaths are
water treatment, communities in the Global South can attributed to poor WASH conditions, indicating that they
potentially reduce the burden of waterborne illnesses, can be prevented through water sanitation efforts (Adams
improve public health, and enhance overall water et al., 2020; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
quality (Prasad et al., 2020).
(iii) We recommend implementation considerations for NCEZID, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and
Environmental Diseases, 2020; WHO, 2022). The burden
establishing a reliable water disinfection system for of these diseases is particularly heavy on vulnerable
the Global South. As part of the implementation and populations, such as young children, pregnant women,
regulatory framework, we also address emerging older adults, and malnourished or immunocompromised
trends in UVC LED technology and water disinfection individuals, where the risk of adverse outcomes increases
that will have future impacts on the sustainability and (Davies et al., 2015; Domman et al., 2020; Fischer Walker
feasibility of the suggested infrastructure and policies.
et al., 2012; Yeasmin et al., 2022). Diarrhea can have severe
2. Waterborne diseases in the Global South consequences, including dehydration (due to excessive loss
of fluids), malnutrition (due to interference with nutrient
2.1. Overview and prevalence absorption), a weakened immune system, and even death

Waterborne diseases are caused by more than (Ferdous et al., 2013). Rotavirus infections alone result in
100 microbial pathogens (US EPA, 2017), including >200,000 deaths annually in the Global South (Crawford
bacterial pathogens such as Legionella, Salmonella typhi, et al., 2017). Besides detrimental health outcomes,
Salmonella enterica, Shigella dysenteriae, Pseudomonas waterborne diseases contribute to significant economic
aeruginosa, Vibrio cholerae, pathogenic Escherichia coli loss. Individuals with waterborne diseases incur substantial
(Domman et al., 2020; US EPA, 2017), and parasites such health-care costs and experience productivity losses
as amoebas, Cryptosporidium spp., Naegleria fowleri, in both households and workplaces, further hindering
and Giardia spp. (Squire & Ryan, 2017; US EPA, 2017), socioeconomic development (Bloom et al., 2018).
as well as viruses such as rotavirus, norovirus, hepatitis 2.1.1. Factors contributing to water contamination
A and E viruses, adenovirus, astrovirus, and enterovirus
(Domman et al., 2020; Gibson, 2014; Yeasmin et al., 2022). Climate change, water availability, and human pollution
However, many of these microbial pathogens are difficult affect the proliferation of these microbes in water sources
to identify, isolate, and decontaminate (US EPA, 2017). (Jung et al., 2023; Squire & Ryan, 2017; US EPA, 2017;
Diarrhea, a common symptom of waterborne diseases, Wang et al., 2023). These factors are often amplified in

Volume 2 Issue 1 (2024) 3 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.1984