The Impact of Hurricane Katrina on the Mental and Physical Health - Research Paper Example

 The Impact of Hurricane Katrina on the Mental and Physical Health Abstract This paper discusses a major social problem that is eminent in New Orleans, which is among the largest cites in the United States of America. The social problem entails the health care in the city especially after it was hit by the Hurricane Katrina and the impacts it has on the population around the place. Moreover, it brings out the difficulties witnessed by the people and the pros and cons of the problem. Introduction New Orleans is one of the biggest cities that harbor a port in the United States. It is also a metropolitan area in that is located at the state of Louisiana. It has social, political and economic aspects that any other city is associated with. However, there is the presence of a social problem in the city. A social problem is a situation that affects people their day to day lives. These problems include environmental pollution, resource depletion, education, unemployment, health care among others. Healthcare The New Orleans has had a major social problem in the last few years. This problem is the healthcare situation that is present in the city with relation to the hurricane that hit it in the year 2005. Essentially, healthcare before hurricane Katrina was associated with a largest population of poor African America, which involved the highest uninsurance rates with many people preferring to have their health problems handled at one of the hospital known as Charity Hospital system. However, the aftermath of the hurricane changed the system of the health care from bad to worse (Goldman, et al., 2007). In fact, several people were left without a major access to health care for a period of more than a year after the storm. Moreover, six of the total sixteen major operating hospitals in the region had not resumed working, and those who were able to open up their doors for clients did so to a small percentage and did not offer full health attention. The health care staff that was present before the hurricane left the area, creating a shortage in the working force that was entrusted in treating the population that had been left. Nature of the problem The occurrence of the storm around mid year 2005, and the consequent flooding that accompanied it shocked the people of New Orleans city with half of its residents having some coverage or access problem and physical health challenge (Goldman & Coussens, 2007). In relation to the dilapidated health resources that were accessible; a survey that was conducted indicated considerable health coverage, access and utilization problems that were facing most of the adults. At least, 43% of them confessed that their ability to reach for health services drastically fell after the hurricane incident, while 18% of the population found it difficult to retrace their place in the medical care (Fussell, et al., 2010). This continuous process of adults facing problems in their health issue and the vulnerable groups having more burdens emanating from poor health status is crucial. The impact of the problem In essence, the rate of uninsured has continuously remained high leading to adults having difficulty in accessing the care they need in an efficient setting. The children present before and after the incident have also experienced trauma because, they are certain of following the normal routine and on this particular case, they are scared and angry. They have also faced both physical and mental health conditions hence require urgent medical attention to stabilize, which is not accessible especially with the special cases of those that are vulnerable and needed more attention in health care (Druss, Henderson & Rosenheck, 2007). Some individuals are also struggling with chronic illness, which mandate them to use healthcare more frequently, because it has specialized care to handle it. These chronic diseases include blood sugar, hypertension and asthma. Additionally, the hurricane led to mental health challenges due to the trauma that was associated with it (Goldman, et al., 2007). This was devastating especially with the fact that people in this region were rated as the most stable in terms of mental well being. The condition was made worse because most of the populace had lost their homes, loved ones, and jobs among other things and was hence in the process of rebuilding their lives (Fussell, et al., 2010). Regardless of when their conditions developed, statistics show that those suffering from poor mental health status require appropriate counseling and treatment to help them in coping with stress in life and remaining healthy (Fussell, et al., 2010). The health status after the hurricane experience have indicated that one or more than one person in ten, who is living in the new Orleans have experienced a decline in their physical health with at least 12 % of them having their health conditions deteriorating and 11% have reported a new or worse health condition. The Will to Move Forward The healthcare is gradually recuperating from the impacts of the hurricane though it has been faced by a number of challenges. However, there has risen an opportunity to create an improved system of healthcare that has focused on the expansion of access to basic care, a health information structure that is modern and health insurance coverage that is extensive. In essence, the health care has grown to be of more complicated and politically charged especially after the only hospital Charity Hospital was closed. However, the difficulty of reconstructing this health system is magnified by the desolation towards the implementation of the system with the loss of several health care providers and staff, which must emanate from poor stability of state and local revenue. The uncertainty around the size, composition, and timing of the population that was within New Orleans has also led to slow rebuilding of the lives of the people (Goldman, et al., 2007). Never the less, there has been continuous support that has been provided to thousands of the people especially those that lost their jobs and thus led to the loss of their coverage of the health care it has also explored ways in which those who had businesses would be helped to rebuild them as well as build the entire economy of the city (Druss, Henderson & Rosenheck, 2007). Conclusion It is apparent that every problem has a solution. In this case, the health problem that has had deteriorated in New Orleans before hurricane Katrina. However, the healthcare has improved adversely after the incident occurred as many people needed to have their health taken care of due to the health complications that occurred during the incident. References: Druss, D. G., Henderson, L. K. & Rosenheck, A. R. (2007). Swept Away: Use of General Medical and Mental Health Services Among Veterans Displaced By Hurricane Katrina. Am J Psychiatry, 164:154–156. Fussell, E. et al., (2010). The Impact of Hurricane Katrina on the Mental and Physical Health of Low-Income Parents in New Orleans. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 80, 2: 233– 243. Goldman, L. & Coussens, C. (2007). Environmental public health impacts of disasters: Hurricane Katrina: workshop summary. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. Goldman, L. et al. (2007). Environmental public health impacts of disasters: Hurricane Katrina: workshop summary. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. Read More