The work of Paul Farmer and Partners in Health

A short introduction to Paul Farmer and Partners in Health. My new hero on the fight against global health inequalities and the search for an individual’s right to a proper system of health care around the world.

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=4069409n

Dr. Paul Farmer, holding a young patient. (www.cbsnews.com)

I’ve just started reading his book, “Pathologies of Power: Health, Human Rights, and the New War on the Poor” Farmer’s cause and passion for the work that he is involved in, only makes you want to be something better and more than what you are right now…..to be able to live and focus on a cause that is so much greater than yourself: The rights and freedoms of individuals who cannot protect themselves and do not have a society or balanced system in place to provide them with a better quality of life.

Violation of Human Rights? Female Circumcision as a Tradition

There is much difficulty in understanding the advantages of what is commonly known to the western world as female genital mutilation or female circumcision in traditional terminology. As studied and researched by individuals, institutions and advocated by human rights groups, there are no significant or even medical advantages to such a procedure. This ritual of female circumcision is viewed as a harmful and excruciatingly painful violation of human rights that is bestowed upon young girls. The difficulty in discourse on this issue is the understanding of how culturally, traditionally, religiously and socially this right of passage is for young girls as a social norm and acceptance into their Islamic societies. Without this ritual, scrutiny and chastisement from such traditional and conservative societies can become a burden to not only the young girls, but their entire families as well. So, even though the need for education and change towards this ritual in regards to human rights must be expressed, it still needs to be presented with an examination and understanding directed towards the sensitivity of the cultural and traditional attributes and reasonings of such an issue. Without making an attempt at this first, it will be difficult to establish any sort of change into a society.

Stephanie Sinclair

Picture and article from the New York Times January 21, 2008: “A Cutting Tradition”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/20/magazine/20circumcision-t.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=cutting+tradition&oref=slogin

“Sicko” is definitely something to see

I saw Michael Moore’s “Sicko” and in order to sum up my impression and overall opinion of the film, I would have to say that it brilliantly illustrated the realization about the depleting state of the health care system in the United States. I haven’t seen any of Moore’s other films and I know that there is always an uproar about whether the films are too biased or one-sided, etc. (Ok, the film did start off with a clip of Bush saying something entrely stupid, even though he was attempting to make a point). But in all seriousness, I think that in this film, the focus, although creatively depicted in a Moore way, illustrated what millions of individuals in this country already know and have to live with everyday; especially if they are part of the population without health insurance. This film, didn’t challenge or question whether the health care crisis could be blamed on the decisions of Republicans or Democratics. This film was a comparative insight into how other countries; Canada, England, France, even Cuba have implemented universal health care, that is not only of a quality level, but preventative in nature, so that ALL citizens may have the opportunity to live healthy and happy lives; Not only the ones that can afford it. For such an incredibly rich and westernized country as ours, you would think that the same types of opportunities could be afforded and provided, especially to the individuals who need it most. But as can clearly be seen, that is simply not the case. For anyone who may think that I am complaining or bashing the United States and whose answer to this may be, “If you don’t like it, then leave it,” I have nothing more of a response then to say: Watch this movie, focus on how other countrie’s health care systems work and tell me then, if you wouldn’t want the same to be offered to you here.