Main Public Hospital Is Drawn Into Bahrain Strife
Doctors Without Borders Response to the Situation
Growing up in America with well-to-do parents, yearly check-ups and emergency room visits were never questioned. Access to quick and effective healthcare was seen as a normal thing. However, this view of healthcare is not the same as other parts of the world. In many countries, access to family practitioners and basic healthcare is too costly to afford, or not available at all. In most instances, this is influenced by poverty, or conflict within the region. Doctors Without Borders however, attempts to address these international healthcare issues.
Although not directly talking about Doctors Without Borders, a New York Times article describes a hospital in Bahrain (a small island in the Persian Gulf) which has been held from treating patients. Although I won't attempt to explain the situation in Bahrain, it is basically in the midst of an uprising that the government is trying to squash. In the midst of this "civil war," soldiers are apparently blockading Bahrain's main hospital. Basically, they are denying people access to medical attention because they are protestors.
Although Doctors Without Borders goes into countries that direly need medical assistance, what can they do in Bahrain? They have a dependable healthcare system, but the government is purposefully denying it. In their response to the situation in Bahrain, Doctors Without Borders outlines what has been going on and also explain what they are doing to bring the situation to an end.
Although most Americans expect easy access to care, Bahrain is just one of hundreds of examples where access is limited, if not possible at all. A quick perusal of the doctors Without Borders website shows that they are involved in hundreds of projects across the world, trying to increase access to proper care. It is sad to think that people are denied the basic right to care, like in Bahrain. However, organizations like Doctors Without Borders attempt to fill the gaps of need, providing services and care which are not normally possible. Although not a permanent solution, this non-profit is a step towards the right direction in providing the oppressed with healthcare that most first-world people take for granted.
Wow, hearing about situations like these make me really appreciate the resources we have here. We are so fortunate to have the medical care that we have. How could they be denied something such as health care? I hope that this organization can help communities like the one in Bahrain. What are things that we can do in order to take part in helping such communities?
ReplyDeleteGood job providing a broad overview of what DWB does. You also incorporated some source material with the New York Times article. Good work. Good use of questioning reality- need a few questions to get the discussion going with your audience.
ReplyDeleteMs.B