Cholera in Haiti? Send in the Marines
Cholera in Haiti?
Send in the Marines
by Colonel Gary Anderson
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The Cholera outbreak in Haiti is an utterly avoidable disaster; and it is likely to be exacerbated by the approach of Hurricane Thomas, but it is one that can still be contained if we act quickly. Cholera is one of the world's most preventable diseases. It is primarily caused by drinking contaminated water although poor sanitation practices exacerbate it. The reason that this outbreak is so inexcusable is that billions have been poured into the country since the January earthquake and some of the most experienced disaster relief organizations in world are on the scene. These include OXFAM; which is probably the most experienced non-governmental organization in the world in dealing with clean water issues, and the United Nations Development Program which has a long history with such emergencies. One can only presume that the Haitian government, which has retaken the lead in recovery, got so consumed with rubble removal and rebuilding that it took its eye off the public health ball. This isn't the time to find fault; the disaster requires immediate help before this epidemic becomes a debacle.
Download the Full Article: Cholera in Haiti? Send in the Marines
Gary Anderson is a retired Marine Corps officer. He is a veteran of disaster relief operations in Bangladesh, Somalia, and the Philippines. He has published several academic studies on humanitarian relief operations.
