During the blogging process, i have learned a lot about the struggles in Africa. I have learned that it is not only AIDS/HIV that affects the lives of millions, but other lesser-known diseases that would be easy to treat. I’ve learned the many reasons why medicine is not available- stigmas, myths, lack of education, lack of money, a poor health-care system, apathy, and greed. But what can one do? Although it is true that one person can make a different in a few peoples’ lives, it takes more than that to affect the masses. One thing that would have to happen is a change in international and foreign drug policy. Saving lives should not be solely about making money; it should be much more focused on doing what is right. Also, more education must be offered. Doctors in Africa are taught to fear pain medications and are given outdated information. How can we expect the situation to improve if health care providers don’t have all of the information? Finally, even if Africa is starting to improve, that doesn’t mean that rich nations helping to support the continent should back out. For Africa to stay stable and become a safe, healthy, decent place to live, nations must not only say they will help; they must honor their agreements. These things will help the health of men, women, and children in Africa.
For Love of Money Monday, Nov 5 2007
Breaking News! 5:20 pm
Dilemma: Help the world by letting others do research and make generic drugs-or make money? That is the question for most pharmaceutical companies these days. And sadly, the answer is usually the latter. One of the biggest obstacles for many countries who cannot produce their own drugs is being able to get them from other countries. If a country cannot produce its own medicine, it must buy the medicine from other countries. However, this can be a very expensive option. For most Africans, buying a supply of medicine for HIV or AIDS is absolutely out of the question. Many of the problems stem from TRIPS, which is an international property rights agreement. This agreement is supposed to protect the patent rights of countries while still trying to protect against monopolies and abuses. However, this does not always happen. An example of this is Brazil. Brazil asked a pharmaceutical company, Abbott Laboratories, if it could make a generic form of an HIV drug to continue to cut the HIV epidemic. The company declined. Brazil then decided to use its right to allow a company inside the country to make a generic brand. Even though this was legal under the TRIPS document, the US threatened trade sanctions against Brazil and only removed them due to bad press. So I ask; which is more important-a healthier world or money?
Drug Issues in African Law Monday, Nov 5 2007
Breaking News! 4:52 pm
We’ve discussed the fear of drug addiction as being a hinderance to proper amounts of medication in Africa (especially sub-saharan Africa.) But there are other problems that have to be looked at. In a recent article in the New York Times, other reasons for a lack of drugs are discussed. These problems range from a lack of skilled doctors to broken down health care systems. But a problem that is most vexing is the strict laws that forbid certain types of drugs that are accessible in other parts of the world from being accessible in theses African countries. Some laws state that a doctor must have two licenses to prescribe morphine, while other laws say that one can only access a 2-3 day supply. What must be understood however is that many people will need some sort of analgesic or painkiller in their lifetime compared to the very small proportion of people who will actually abuse an opiod. These outdated fears not only affect how certain doctors practice, but how all doctors MUST practice. Education about drugs has to be better incorporated into African doctors and lawmakers’ lives.
Jimmy Carter to the Rescue Monday, Oct 22 2007
Breaking News! 11:09 pm
There are some who are willing to champion the rights of those who cannot speak for themselves in Africa. One such man it Jimmy Carter> Jimmy Carter has been working to help wipe out diseases in Africa that would be extremely easy to prevent with inexpensive medication and care. One such plight was the guinea worm. The guinea work is a two foot long parasite that grows in the body and eventually surfaces causing extreme pain. Carter has visited Africa several times and is a large reason why the disease is expected to be eradicated within a few years. Other diseases such as river blindness, elephantiasis, and trachoma have also been projects worked on by Carter. These diseases, which would be no trouble in other countries, cause much concern because no attention is paid in research and treatment for the impoverished people of Africa.
Info Monday, Oct 22 2007
Ongoing Posts 11:08 pm
sites that i have been using to help me with my research have been the New York Times and the Post. Other sources have been google or msn. I was researching pain medication in Africa, but since there was a lack of information i expanded to the health care crisis in general.
Drugs Banned, Africa Suffers Monday, Oct 22 2007
Breaking News! and Uncategorized 5:16 pm
In Africa, it has been very difficult to get pain medication. Even those suffering with the most excruciating pain are given nothing but over-the-counter pain medications. And unlike most peoples’ presumptions, it has nothing to do with a shortage or the price of the medicine; the lack of pain killers is due to a deep-rooted fear. During conflicts in Africa, children were turned into soldiers and hardened with mind-altering drugs. So now, there is a great fear that this could happen again. And so, Africa has to choose: the pain of its people, or the safetly of its people.
There are doctors and advocates trying to convince the people of Africa that used correctly, the drugs are not so dangerous. However, only time will tell if Africa can get the help it needs to stop the suffering.
Pain in Africa Monday, Sep 24 2007
Ongoing Posts 9:24 pm
The issue I will be discussing is the lack of medication or attention to health issues in African countries. I chose this particular issue because there is much suffering going on that could be prevented, but sadly there is such a stigma hovering around pain medication and a lack of education in other health-related areas. A dark past has put a slant on something that could help many people in their suffering. It is a gray area where one has to decide which is more important: the suffering of many or peace for those who have been through a drug-laced war.
