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campaigning for improved global healthcare?

  • 26-10-2007 12:24pm
    #1
    tallaght01
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,778 ✭✭✭


    Was just thinking about this. Millions upon millions of kids die every year of simple diarrhoea worldwide. About 45 million people have HIV worldwide, most of these are in sub-saharan africa. The average life expectancy in Some of the poorer West African contries like Sierra Leon is about 35. Sexual violence is endemic in many poor countries. Female genital mutilation is the norm in some populations. I could go on. I'm sure I don't need to.

    I'm leaving paediatrics ina few years to go and do public health. But what, realistically, can one do?

    Does anyone else lament the lack of an effective lobby from medical/nursing/healthcare professionals regarding global health. I mean, there are loads of charites like MSF etc, but they tend to provide healthcare at a local level.

    Is there a role for a more effective lobby? Would it be of any use? What would we ask for? How would we achieve it?

    Any thoughts?


Comments

  • #2
    N8
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 458 ✭✭N8


    whilst we often cross swords and must agree to disagree this is one thing that has often crossed my own mind.

    should it come from healthcare professonals or should it be left up to the likes of Bono or Bob Geldof?


  • #3
    tallaght01
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,778 ✭✭✭tallaght01


    I don;t know about you, but I hate seeing Bone and geldof being given audiences with W Bush etc. Why isnt the head of the WHO, or UNAIDS being given an audience like this. These guys are the true experts. Bono is no expert.

    I disagree with most of, if not all, of what Bono thinks are the important issues. I think Geldof is a bit more clued up, and gave up a lot of his music commitments to campaign.


  • #4
    Vorsprung
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,816 ✭✭✭Vorsprung


    If Bono or a health professional was harping on about something on TV, which one would be more likely to make you stop and listen, rather than change the channel?

    For most people, I think Bono tbh. All publicity for these kind of problems is good publicity. Doesn't matter if it comes from celebs.


  • #5
    tallaght01
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,778 ✭✭✭tallaght01


    I disagree, bigjimthefirst.

    Bono's message arguably tok away from what people on the ground in Africa were trying to do. It would be fair enough if he were simply passing on a message to the public from those more qualified than him. But he passes on his own message. He decides what's important. The wron intervention can do more harm than no intervention.

    Many of the aid agencies were critical of his total focus on dropping the debt, for example, a few years ago. Because of their fame, he and Geldof were able to mobilise millions of people, but nothing was really achieved.


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