Sometimes
Global Health spends too much time on solving the health issues superficially instead
of looking at the root of the health problem. For years organizations such as
WHO and Bill Gates Foundation have spent billions of dollars to solve malaria's
problem in African countries. Scientists have not yet developed any vaccine or proper
treatment for malaria. They have spent too much time on treatment of malaria's
symptoms, but not enough time on how to solve the origin of this disease. When a
problem still exists after spending time, and efforts, and resources, we better
look at the problem deeper. Solving malaria problem is like a patient who has
herniated disc and is dealing with pain, and goes to a doctor and the
doctor prescribes pain killers for the patient, but the patient keeps coming
back because still has pain. The doctor tries to solve the symptoms instead of
solving the root of the problem. The best way to find a solution for any
problem is to recognize why problem has happened and where the origin of the problem is and then set priorities
to determine which strategy have long term effects. According to studies, Anopheles mosquitoes complete their cycle in the stagnant
water and grow rapidly in warm weather and if you look at the situation of
African countries dealing with malaria through media you can find out why malaria
problem is still unsolved. The Government of these countries should pay more
attention on roads holes, pedestrians holes, and buildings which are perfect
places for malaria fast growth and production.
In my view WHO
and philanthropists should provide resources and founds combined with appropriate
monitoring for
African countries which are dealing with malaria in order to help them for their infrastructure
projects and ask the
government and people of such nations to work together to build their
countries. Global Health then might have greater chances to succeed in these
countries not only on malaria eradication but also it could stimulate their
economic growth.
Indeed. Unless we address structural problems, our efforts end up as fire fighting and putting bandages. So, every global health issue has basic and underlying causes which have to be addressed along with the current conditions of disease manifestation. And this true for Malaria, this is true for HIV/AIDS, true for Polio, true for STIs.
ReplyDeleteMakes perfect sense. I think in the age of Results Based measures (simply put, success measured by numbers), most organizations are forced to find a way to quantify their success. They need an immediate success storyline. This becomes a trap for many NGOs. Many times focusing on the root of the problem does not give immediate results.However, it is focusing on the root causes that produces sustainable results. Focusing on the root causes forces global health workers to focus on structural issues (systems that helps create a sustainable global health system. For example, in an attempt to address the HIV/AIDS pandemic, some organizations may measure their success by the number of condoms they distribute. Whereas the distribution of condoms plays an important role in the fight of HIV/AIDs, condoms on their own do not address the issue of promiscuity, poverty which sends people into prostitution, lack of education etc. So by focusing on important but not urgent things, we address the important issues that bring real sustainable change.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your post completely. I feel that this same mindset is used for many problems, not just for preventing and controlling Malaria, as Lala mentioned as well. After reading your the initial post I started thinking about America and some of the issues that we face in this country. In America I believe that we have gotten so comfortable and used to the concept of "instant gratification," and it seems that unless we can put a bandaid on a cut, or take a medication for an illness, we'd rather not do anything at all. From a Public Health perspective we face this same concept when it comes to reducing the number of people who are currently obese in our country. It seems that almost every day there is a new diet pill, or quick fix advertised. People are more inclined and quicker to purchase these products than they are to devise a fitness and nutrition plan that will take time and effort to see results. I feel that this same concept exists when it comes to treating Malaria. As Onias mentioned, everyone is looking for an immediate success storyline, but I believe that instead of having this instant gratification, and immediate success, we need to look deeper into the cause of the issue, and not just place a bandage on top of it.
ReplyDelete- Grace Quattrocki
Allow me to just be pose a few key questions here. I agree that it is important to spend time and resources on what is important.
ReplyDelete1. How do we communicate this message successfully to the funders who only fund projects that are urgent and will give them a sport light?
2. Are we as health workers held hostage by funding sources?
3. How can liberate ourselves from this grip and have an independent and unbiased voice?
I believe Public Health should provide evidence such as the successful result of a pilot project about current program that they need financial support for, or as professor Dutta indicated in our pervious class explicitly describe the collected data and address “persistent challenges” which can greatly influence public health interventions. The Health organizations may also address the problem simply by highlighting people’s living condition and their desperation.
ReplyDelete