5:16 PM
Sociology 202
Haiti has had a horrible outbreak of cholera. This is from the earthquake that happened in mid January. Cholera has not been in Haiti for fifty year, so this is very devastating for the Haitian people. The disease has affected over three thousand people, and 259 people have already died. Since the earthquake many people have been displaced, making it more difficult for the people to live in sanitary conditions. The authorities have recently been trying very hard to have safe water available for everyone. They have also been administering antibiotics, and trying to overcome the huge epidemic. Some of the symptoms of cholera are dehydration, and horrible stomach cramps, involving diarrhea and vomiting. Recent activity has cause an increase number of treatment stations, and an overall stress of hygiene is being announced. The first cases were in Port- au- Prince, and have been spreading ever since. If this is not immediately treated it was effect the whole Haitian country.
Cholera is a problem that predominantly happens due to natural disasters. Since this happens often because of something that is unpreventable, we should be more prepared for it. When a natural disaster hits a third- world country, there should be preparations for what can and most likely will happen. There should be an expectancy of the disease, and cautions should be made for sanitary waters. This is a horrifying thing that is happening to the Haitian nation, and they do not need anything more than the damage that was already done by the earthquake. I hope the government will continue to help the people that are affected.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/26/world/americas/26haiti.html?ref=health
2 comments:
I have actually done a blog post on the Cholera outbreak in Haiti, and after reading yours, I am still amazed that the water is the problem. Something we take for granted everyday, clean water, can cause so many people to become sick and die. Hopefully after this outbreak, the UN or President Obama can enforce clean water projects.
It sad to think that something we use every day without thinking about can mean life or death to someone. Poor sanitation kills so many people each year you would think there would be more solutions to this problem.
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