Advancements in Diarrhea Control Strategies in Africa: Current Approaches and Emerging Technologies

Kibibi Wairimu H.

School of Natural and Applied Sciences Kampala International University Uganda

                                                                            ABSTRACT
Diarrheal disease remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children under five across Africa, driven by gaps in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), limited access to timely treatment, and uneven vaccine coverage. In the last decade, control strategies have combined long-established clinical interventions (oral rehydration, zinc, breastfeeding, rotavirus vaccination) with innovations in diagnostics, surveillance, digital health, and sanitation engineering. This review synthesizes recent progress and emerging technologies relevant to African settings: expansion of rotavirus vaccine introductions and supply mechanisms; efforts to scale up co-packaged oral rehydration solution (ORS) and zinc; development and deployment of point-of-care and multiplex molecular diagnostics; wastewater-based epidemiology and environmental surveillance; and novel water- and sanitationfocused technologies (point-of-use treatment, container-based sanitation, improved fecal sludge management). We highlight implementation barriers (supply chains, health system capacity, behavior change, financing) and identify research and policy priorities needed to accelerate impact, including cost-effective diagnostic algorithms, integrated surveillance platforms, sustainable financing for WASH, and locally adapted delivery strategies.

Keywords: Diarrhea Control, Africa, Current Approaches, Emerging Technologies.

CITE AS: Kibibi Wairimu H. (2026). Advancements in Diarrhea Control Strategies in Africa: Current Approaches and Emerging Technologies. INOSR APPLIED SCIENCES 14(2):22-27.
https://doi.org/10.59298/INOSRAS/2025/14.2.2227