Reflection on Eco-Catastrophe - Essay Example

Reflection on Eco-Catastrophe Human health is affected both positively and negatively by ecological factors but on reading Ehrlich’s (1969) article entitled ‘Eco-Catastrophe’ one cannot help but feel the negatives are eradicating all positive effects and intervention is too late. Ehrlich, concerned with population, more specifically over-population of the earth, provides a number of imaginary fatalistic and cynical scenarios to illustrate the state of the earth, its governments and its doom; his answer to population control is death rather than control of birth, death by self extermination of the environment.

Reality is of course that forty years later the world is still here, ecological, population and hunger problems still exist but there is more awareness and more measures are being taken to combat the issues in all areas of environmental and global health care. The article is one that requires multiple readings in order to fully determine and appreciate the cynicism and at times wit of the writer, for although fatalistic in his beliefs he shows a degree of humor, albeit satirical in his denotation of the large powers of the western world.

It is his depictions of catastrophic global events however, that cause readers to stop, take stock and reflect on what he purports because, although far in exaggeration, there are some elements of his prophecies that are apparent, real, and need of intervention if global health is to be improved.Although there is not the mass starvation predicted by Ehrlich there are many people in the world who are starving and in need of basic health care, particularly in developing countries, but most of this is caused by war and poverty rather than lack of food.

Although there has been a drive, whether for corporate or government gain, to increase crop yields and other food by use of biotechnology the debate on the risks and benefits of such food is stifling its purpose of feeding the hungry and giving help where it is most needed. Although the oceans are not depleted, the air is not killing millions of people, and population control is by choice, and being undertaken, in most situations, in a humanitarian manner, not as envisioned by Ehrlich, the problems do exist.

Ecological factors that are negative are a threat to human health and therefore need to be controlled; conditions that promote invasive bacteria, viruses or diseases for example, need to be monitored; air pollution can lead to diseases of the respiratory system or cancer; water quality in terms of contaminants, carriage and treatment and industrial outflows, all require environmental management that can assist in maintaining and reinstating health. Dissemination of information is important in the optimization of health resources; strategies need to be in place for fast response by health systems to manage threatening situations; in fact many health benefits are attainable if attention is paid to factors pertaining to the environment.

As a healthcare worker I feel this article is far too damning of the human race and way too grave in terms of the fate of the earth and mankind but it does instill a sense of need and urgency, a sense that although much is being done to deal with ecological issues and population control, these measures need to be maintained and increased. They need to further explore ways in which the environment can identify and evaluate main concerns that can have negative or detrimental effects on people’s health; thus the objective needs to include both the provision of healthcare to people and the maintenance of a healthy environment, but the focus should be on preventing ecological issues that place people at risk rather than on intervention from the health sector.

ReferencesEhrlich, Dr.Paul, (1969). Eco-Catastrophe!