What Can Be Done

It is obvious that many people around the world are lacking adequate health care and are dying as a result. Understanding the health care problems that others face, both overseas and in our own country, can leave a person with a feeling of helplessness, they wish they could help but how. I know that as I began to research, and when I witnessed first hand in South America, the crises the people without adequate healthcare face I was left with this feeling. I wanted to know what was being done for those who aren’t as fortunate as I am to have good insurance or even a well stocked, technologically advanced health care center. There are several organizations that have made it their goal to provide healthcare to those who need it. Some of these organizations, like Doctors Without Borders, I had heard of, and others I had no idea existed.

One organization that I found interesting and had never heard of before is HealthRight International, they used to be called Doctors of the World. This organization was founded in 1990 and has been working since to make a difference. What I found interesting about HealthRight International was that their main focus was toward helping those that had been hurt by human right violations. When I was reading through the types of situations they are helping with I found that we had talked about them in class, so essentially this organization was aiding those who are victims of globalization. HealthRight International supports those who have been thorough human trafficking and gender and domestic violence.

The way HealthRight International goes about their assistance is beneficial for all involved. They don’t just go in provide aid and then leave; leaving those they have helped to then fend for themselves again. HealthRight International works with communities, physicians, and leaders of an area to set up a system so health care is continued to be provided when they leave. They train members of the community and any physicians in the area. When HealthRight International goes into an area they take into consideration the culture and local practices of the area and then set up a program that will provide tools and protocols that are needed. In this way they can leave a lasting change.

Some might say that while this is great for other countries what about our own. HealthRight International works within the United States as well. They work with those who are fleeing persecution and torture. While their programs in the United States are focused on those migrating into the U.S. they are providing care to a large number of those in our country who otherwise would not be able to get adequate health care and their support program helps them become financially stable.

There is still a lot to be done. I realize that one organization is not going to solve the world’s health care problems, but with the many more organizations like this one progress is being made. I think that if we could set up more systems of health care aid where community members were trained in caring for others as well as local physicians, both in the United States as well as around the world, health care would be less of a crisis. In addition to this I think that if more individuals knew what was being done to help greater strides could be made, maybe instead of magazines in doctors’ waiting rooms we could have information on world health care and those who are trying to help.

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