Cholera in Haiti

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Article Summary

-A recent dramatic increase in cholera patients in Haiti’s urban hospitals was reported by health workers of aid organization Partners in Health

-Disease leaves 250,000 sick and 5,000 dead from this wave

-First outbreak was in October 2010

- After decrease in eventual disease decrease in January, there was a predicted spring surge in the disease due to spreading of contaminated water through rainfall

-Doctors without Borders is leading the emergency medical response- say that rural cases are increasing only slightly and are not expected to increase in the long run

-Causes of the outbreak are being investigated by the UN –reports exist of unsanitary work conditions in UN site in Haiti

-Strain of cholera from Haiti is the same as the strain found in South Asia

Article Analysis

Complex

Interrelated

Controversial

 My Own Opinion

     It is sometimes hard to put into words how a health issue actually affects and is affected by all aspects of a country; social, economic and political. In my research for my ISU on foreign aid, I’ve learned that almost all issues are interconnected. Any social issue affecting a nation quickly translates into and economic and political issue as it progresses. In developing countries, often an issue like a health outbreak will worsen or add to pre-existing issues like worker’s rights, public sanitation and poverty. A disease outbreak like this within a developing country can be just as catastrophic to the people and the market as a natural disaster, and can easily escalate to overwhelming proportions. And it’s all, in this case, preventable with sanitation.

     I think the resolution to this outbreak is firstly, government responsibility for basic things that will prevent water-borne diseases! Water treatment and sanitation are critical in preventing all kinds of health issues and should be a basic priority of the government. As well, another solution may lie with the general public. Right now there are two things circulating newspapers: Osama Bin Laden’s assassination and the royal wedding. In all honesty, with the money spent on the wedding, health issues like the outbreak in Haiti could be resolved, and people could be educated so future outbreaks are prevented. I absolutely don’t want to say that no one should enjoy themselves when they could be helping others, but huge levels of extravagance hardly seem worth it when with financial support, we could reach viable solutions to world issues.



Mary Tress