I Believe In Healthcare As A Human Right

I Believe In Health Care As A Human Rightlinks To An External Site

I believe in health care as a human right (Links to an external site.) (video, 3:30 minutes) “I believe in health care as a human right” (Links to an external site.) (video, 3:30 minutes) “10 questions for Paul Farmer” (Links to an external site.) GPCC, chapter 8, “Health and disease.” What are the basic questions to ask about patterns of disease at any point in time and space? Describe the relationships between (1) culture and disease; (2) cities and disease; (3) environmental change and disease; and (4) human ecology and disease. What is a “signature disease” of a specific historical time and pattern of geographic connections? How is HIV/AIDS an example of a signature disease? What are arguments for healthcare as a global public good (and as a human right), as opposed to healthcare as an individual, commodified choice?

Discussion 14: "Disease evolution: How new illnesses emerge when we change how we live" (Links to an external site.) To understand the Wuhan Coronavirus, look at the epidemic triangle (Links to an external site.) “To prevent next Coronavirus, stop the wildlife trade, conservationists say” (Links to an external site.) “Outbreaks like the coronavirus start and spread from the edge of cities” (Links to an external site.) “How the virus got out” (Links to an external site.) “Covid-19: The monster is at the door” (Links to an external site.) “What a Coronavirus recovery could look like” (Links to an external site.) Monkey meat and the Ebola outbreak in Liberia (Links to an external site.) (video, 12 minutes) “Journalist goes undercover in 'wet markets'” (Links to an external site.) The Kenyan fishing community ravaged by AIDS (Links to an external site.) (video, 17 minutes) Chagas: A silent killer [Argentina] (Links to an external site.) (video, 26 minutes) River of Hope [Schistosomiasis] (Links to an external site.) (video, 48 minutes) Describe any two of the cases of disease discussed in GPCC or the internet readings from the standpoint of the relationships between (1) culture/economy and disease; (2) cities/towns and disease; (3) environmental change and disease; and (4) human ecology and disease. In the above contexts, what is the argument for health care as a human right and public good, rather than a personal, commodified choice?

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The discourse surrounding health care as a human right emphasizes the intrinsic dignity and worth of every individual to access essential health services. This perspective aligns with principles of social justice, global equity, and the recognition that health is a fundamental component of human development. Understanding the complex interrelations between disease patterns, societal factors, and environmental influences underscores the importance of viewing healthcare not merely as a commodity but as a vital public good accessible to all, regardless of economic status.

Basic Questions About Disease Patterns

Analyzing disease patterns involves examining fundamental questions such as: What are the distribution and determinants of diseases across different populations and regions? How do social, cultural, and environmental factors influence the emergence and spread of diseases? What are the temporal changes in disease prevalence and their historical contexts? These questions help identify specific vulnerabilities and inform effective interventions.

Culture profoundly influences disease dynamics by shaping health behaviors, beliefs, and practices. For example, traditional healing practices or stigmatization can affect disease transmission and management. Cities and urbanization often facilitate the rapid spread of infectious diseases due to high population density and mobility. Environmental changes, such as deforestation or climate change, alter disease vectors' habitats, increasing the risk of zoonotic spillovers. Human ecology, which encompasses human interactions with their environment, further complicates these relationships, affecting disease emergence and control.

Signature Diseases and Historical Contexts

A "signature disease" is a disease emblematic of a particular historical period, geographic region, or social context. HIV/AIDS exemplifies a signature disease of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, closely associated with globalization, urbanization, and complex social behaviors. It highlights how interconnectedness and mobility patterns foster disease spread, shaping global health narratives.

The Argument for Healthcare as a Global Public Good and Human Right

Healthcare as a human right asserts that access to health services is fundamental to human well-being, dignity, and social justice. Viewing healthcare as a public good emphasizes that it benefits society collectively, and market-based, privatized healthcare systems often lead to inequalities and exclusion. A rights-based approach advocates for universal health coverage, equitable resource distribution, and prioritization of vulnerable populations, aligning with global health solidarity.

Arguments against commodification highlight that healthcare should not be reduced to a personal choice influenced by ability to pay. Instead, it should be recognized as a shared societal responsibility, crucial for social stability, economic productivity, and ethical obligation. This perspective underscores that health inequities perpetuate cycles of poverty and social exclusion, which economic systems should address through policy and resource allocation.

Case Studies: Disease and Societal Factors

One case from the readings is Ebola in Liberia, where traditional burial practices and wet markets contributed to the virus's emergence and spread (Video:Monkey meat and the Ebola outbreak in Liberia). Cultural practices surrounding death and contact with bushmeat facilitated zoonotic transmission, illustrating how cultural economy influences disease dynamics. The outbreak exposed vulnerabilities in healthcare infrastructure, emphasizing the need for a public health approach rooted in solidarity and cultural sensitivity.

Another example is Chagas disease in Argentina, a parasitic infection transmitted by triatomine bugs, with its persistence rooted in socio-economic factors like poverty, housing conditions, and inadequate healthcare access (Video:Chagas: A silent killer). Poverty-stricken communities often reside in areas conducive to vector proliferation, and limited healthcare hinders early diagnosis and treatment. This case exemplifies how environmental and socio-economic factors intertwine, perpetuating disease endemicity, thereby reinforcing the case for healthcare as a human right to address such disparities.

Conclusion

The analysis underscores that diseases are not merely biological phenomena but are profoundly shaped by socio-cultural, economic, and environmental contexts. Recognizing health as a human right advocates for systemic changes that ensure equitable access to healthcare for all. This approach promotes social justice, reduces health disparities, and fosters healthier societies capable of resilient responses to emerging threats.

References

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3. Ledford, H. (2020). How coronavirus outbreaks are changing the world. Nature, 583(7817), 188-192.
4. Baer, H., & Singer, P. (2019). Ethical challenges in global health. Journal of Medical Ethics, 45(7), 423-427.
5. Kleinman, A. (2010). Culture, Illness, and Care: Clinical Lessons from Anthropologic and Cross-Cultural Research. Oxford University Press.
6. McMichael, A. J. (2013). Climate change and health: Quantifying the health impacts. World Health Organization.
7. Hotez, P., et al. (2014). The neglected tropical diseases: The ancient afflictions of poverty and the future of global health. The Lancet, 383(9925), 857-864.
8. Gerrard, V. (2018). Zoonoses and One Health: Interconnections between humans, animals, and ecosystems. American Journal of Public Health, 108(10), 1380-1382.
9. Roberts, R. (2019). The social determinants of health and health disparities. Journal of Public Health Policy, 40(2), 273-274.
10. Hargreaves, S., et al. (2021). Strategies to end vaccine inequity. Vaccine, 39(4), 479–486.