Millions Saved: Proven Successes in Global Health - Book Report/Review Example

According to Ruth Levine’s book d “Millions saved: proven successes in global health,” Polio is a disease that has been feared down through history, due to its ability to spread to so many individuals in a short period of time. Polio is caused by an intestinal poliovirus that spreads by entering into its victim’s nose or mouth. At this point, the disease finds its way into the lymphatic system, and the virus multiplies. Paralysis, which is one of Polio’s most noted symptoms, occurs in less than one percent of individuals who have been infected, and this paralysis is due to the nerve cells dying off that are responsible for muscle movement. Most of the time, when the paralysis occurs, only the legs become crippled; however, in some cases individuals have been known to become quadriplegic. Polio is so fast acting that within is little as four days, one can become paralyzed in some way, shape, or form, if they are affected by this symptom (2004). As far as treatment is concerned, there is very little that one can do once the disease strikes. Treatment is normally symptomatic and supportive. For instance, regarding the treatment of Polio, one article states that there is really no effective treatment or drug that one can take to treat Polio. All the patient can do is stay in bed and rest, and moist heat compresses are applied to his body to alleviate suffering. Along with this, the patient is to exercise and undergo a regimen of physical therapy to avoid deformity and paralysis, as much as possible (McCreedy, 2005). Before the campaign to eradicate Polio was set in place in Latin America and the Caribbean, thousands of people were affected each year, and several of those who were affected had died. According to Ruth Levine, “In Latin America in the 1970s, there were an estimated 15,000 paralysis cases and 1,750 deaths each year due To polio” (2004). So many individuals dying off or becoming gravely ill had a major effect on the economy of the countries in which they resided, as the economy was deeply affected because a great deal of money had to be spent on treatment, hence the reason that the governments of these countries welcomed the Polio campaign with open arms. They reasoned that the “Administration of an oral polio vaccine is both an inexpensive and an extremely cost-effective intervention” (Levine, 2004). Such a strategy, indeed, enabled these countries to save money, which enabled their economy to be a bit more stable. 1- What are the starting conditions in the region of the Americas that facilitated the achievement of polio elimination? The starting conditions that facilitated the elimination of Polio in the Latin American region were that the Oral Polio Vaccine was in circulation, and its success was outstanding. Being that there was much success in using this vaccine, Dr. Carlyle Guerra de Macedo then made a proposal to completely eradicate Polio in the Latin America and Caribbean region. As it concerns Polio eradication, there was overwhelming support from the government officials of these countries. This support was evident in the amount of financial commitment that they have made toward the programs and efforts put in place to eliminate Polio. Another condition was that that governments of these countries were cooperative in working along with the ICC to not only structure plans that would effectively eradicate Polio in this region, there was a level of organization that was established, such as how the disease would be effectively be eradicated and how the moneys that were received would be budgeted, in order for such efforts to pay off (Levine 2004). It was these starting circumstances that enabled the programs to permanently eradicate Polio to be set in place. 2- Which societies and groups will benefit most from polio eradication While all of us will benefit from Polio eradication, developing countries will benefit the best from such campaigns. The reason this is the case is because developing countries, such as those found in the Caribbean and Latin America do not have access to top notch health resources, and their health professionals may not have the training that those in more affluent countries do; however, putting such campaigns in place will not only enable these countries to have better resources to deal with infectious diseases, such as Polio, if they should strike, the health professionals residing in this region will have better training, so they are able to better address the health problems that may arise in this population. If diseases like Polio are eradicated from these societies, there will be more individuals that are able to remain healthy, thus they can work and contribute to the economy of the countries in which they reside. 3- Could or should interagency coordinating committees be established for general health problems? I do feel that agencies should be put in place to address general health problems, though; they are not as big of a deal as infectious diseases, as general health problems are responsible for lost wages and a lower quality of life. When people are sick or in pain, they cannot enjoy life as they did if they are not, and they miss work. If such agencies were put in place, more people will be able to receive treatments for various ailments that they otherwise cannot afford. As it stands right now, there are millions in our country alone who do not receive routine checkups, as well as cannot receive treatment for even the simplest of ailments due to a lack of insurance. The situation in developing countries is more dismal than ours. In such countries, there is an even greater lack of resources, meaning that a greater number of people than in our country do not receive treatment for easily curable ailments. If agencies and committees are established to address general health problems, fewer people will find themselves in this situation. 4- In what ways did polio elimination campaign strength the basis health system? How you see polio eradication weakening the delivery of basic health services. The polio elimination campaign has strengthened the health system in a number of ways. According to Ruth Levine’s book, this campaign was the reason that a surveillance system was put in place to watch for Polio and other diseases. Not to mention such surveillance systems also monitored the impact that the reduction of said diseases had on these regions. Another strength that this campaign has had on the health system was that it enabled healthcare workers to be better trained to respond to said diseases and have a better plan of action in place to deal with them. Then, there is the strength that better medical tests and technology was given to these countries within this region to detect even the lowest levels of infection to better keep infectious diseases out of the community (Levine, 2004). As far as weaknesses are concerned, I only see one. The rights of people may be infringed upon, as they may have a difficult time refusing certain treatments, should they not want them, especially as it pertains to their children. Other than that, this campaign has had a very positive impact. 5- How might polio eradication initiative contribute to the preparedness for and mitigation of avian influenza. Avian influenza is a recent illness that has decided it would strike millions and leave them ill or dead. While none of the instance of human infection has been reported in the United States, this can change, as people do travel. According to the Centers for disease Control, Avian Flu is contracted by being exposed to paltry that is either ill or dead. At this time, it is thought that this type of influenza cannot be spread from human to human on contact, but being that flu viruses can changes and new strands can be developed, there is a need for programs to be put in place to monitor infection (2008) Like Polio, some are beginning to fear what the avian influenza can do, as this illness and the geographic location of it can change at any time. Like Polio, there is a chance that this flu can become a worldwide pandemic. Putting programs in place to monitor the spread of this flu, as well as eradicate it is economically justified because it is less expensive to prevent the spread of infection than to treat it after the infection has started. Levine makes note of this very fact in her book when she states that “Administration of an oral polio vaccine is both an inexpensive and an extremely cost-effective intervention” (2004). Being that this is the case, a campaign to stamp out avian influenza is a good idea. References Centers for Disease Control. (2008, May 23). Avian influenza a virus infections of human. Retrieved January 18, 2010, from http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/avian-flu-humans.htm Levine, R. (2004). Millions saved: proven successes in global health. Washington DC: Peterson Institute. McCreedy, L. (2005, April 12). Treatment and Prevention. Retrieved from http://www.umw.edu/hisa/ resources/Student%20Projects/McCreedy/students.umw.edu/_lmccr9sd/poliovaccine/treatment.html Read More