Health care in times of crisis

With the current crisis in Haiti, we have been forced to re-evaluate how we can provide health care to countries in distress.

This article from the UN News Centre addresses this issue.

Some examples of types of medical aid being provided to countries in crisis can be found here.

Want some background information on Haiti? You can find that here.


Also, good luck with your position papers, delegate. Please don't leave them to last minute, because remember, Brandon and I will be reading all of them and we have lives too!

Be sure to look at our older blog posts as well. We've posted lots of links over the past couple months so don't just look at the last couple posts!


See you on February 18th!

Background Papers!

Just a reminder that background papers are an excellent resource:

Access to Medication During Health Crises

The Health Impacts of Urbanization

Good luck with your research, Delegates!

Earthquake strikes Haiti AGAIN.

Moments ago, this Press Corps columnist and her friend, the WHO director, received information that another earthquake had hit Haiti this morning, moments after medical aid from the US Navy arrived in Haiti.

Check out this link.

--RT

Top Health Story of 2009

If you need further information on the H1N1 pandemic, CNN has released an article entitled H1NI and Health Reform Dominated 2009 Medical News.

At the bottom of the article, there is a series of discussion containing international viewpoints which may be helpful in determining your country's standpoint on the issue.

PS. This article reinforces the importance of good hand-washing technique :D

--RT

Prices of antibiotics in different countries

A post of interest from my favorite publication, The Economist:

Who pays the most for branded and generic drugs?

Looking at the price of drugs in countries on average can be useful in understanding what consumers might pay in times of health crises, as national health systems often continue to subsidize medication.

Earthquake in Haiti - Access to Healthcare

In making a desperate appeal for medical supplies and assistance, Haitian President Rene Preval said some hospitals have collapsed as a result of the quake, further handicapping a public healthcare system poorly equipped to handle a disaster of this proportion. At the time of the survey, Haitians were far less likely than any other population in the region to report having widespread access to health services. Fewer than one in four (22%) said they were satisfied with the availability of quality healthcare in their communities, and one in nine (11%) said healthcare is accessible to anyone in the country.

Furthermore, health officials warn that dealing with the injuries caused by the quake itself will be only the beginning of Haiti's public health crisis. Poor sanitation and lack of access to clean water are likely to make cholera and other waterborne diseases a major problem. Water quality was already a problem for many Haitians; 37% said in December 2008 that they were satisfied with the quality of water in their communities, vs. 66% of Dominicans in 2009, and a regional median of 67%.

Source: http://www.gallup.com/poll/125075/Survey-Highlights-Haitians-Vulnerability.aspx

33 days!

Hey Delegates!

With the conference coming up soon, you should be starting to think about your country's position paper. Background papers that give general information about the topics for this year can be found here. Also, keep checking this blog for any information we find between now and the conference.

Feel free to email your dais (Brandon and Natalie) at hsmun.who@gmail.com if you have any questions regarding the WHO topics for HSMUN 2010.

Urbanization and Health Resources

For a simple overview of the issues involved, see the following lecture notes:
http://depts.washington.edu/envir202/Lessons/Lesson05.pdf

For more detail about individual countries, check out:
http://urbanhealthupdates.wordpress.com/. There are link to issues in individual countries along the righthand side. The newsletter posted on the main page is also informative.

Want a case study? Have a look at the UN reports posted at
http://urbanhealthupdates.wordpress.com/2010/01/05/who-centre-for-health-development-urban-dengue-in-bangkok/

For more explanation of trends in urbanization and health, see
http://www.populationenvironmentresearch.org/papers/Urban_Expansion_background_paper.pdf

Emergency medical aid delivery to the crisis in Haiti:

See the following articles:
UN and UNICEF launch aid appeal to overcome massive challenges in Haiti quake zone
http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/haiti_52474.html

Chinese rescuers provide much-needed medical assistance in Haiti
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2010-01/16/content_12822517.htm

Shortages become acute as bodies pile up in Haiti
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Shortages-become-acute-as-bodies-pile-up/H1-Article1-498069.aspx

Beyond emergency aid, Haiti needs long-term help
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2010/01/15/beyond_emergency_aid_haiti_needs_long_term_help/