Let's Be The Cultural Cure!

The world is vast and full of unexplored outlets pertaining to health. Dr. Wallis and her Epidemiology class have begun to open my eyes to not only the issues existing in our own country, but those throughout the world. On Monday, we listened to a lecture on global health and it reinforced the notation that her class is providing insight into other parts of the world and the issues they are battling. On Monday, November 4, Nicaragua has been battling Dengue. This illness is a classic staple of the humid, South American climate and other parts of the world. Mosquitos are the main vector for the illness and thrive in moist, tropical climates. It has been an epidemic for some time and continues to cause illness throughout these populations. Currently, five children, ranging in age from 5 to 15, have Dengue fever and are in critical condition. Over 1,000 people have become hospitalized as a result of Dengue fever in Nicaragua. The government and Cuban health officials have acknowledged the current epidemic and are planning strategies to control the outbreak. Becoming educated about issues around the globe allows for a more diverse outlook on health prevention and treatment. It's so easy sometimes to enclose yourself in your own world and not explore areas outside of it. Dr. Wallis challenges me to take a step back out of this world and dive into one that I never paid attention too. By becoming educated and understanding other nations, you become more culturally competent and can then begin to think critically about prevention and implementation strategies that may be more successful than those strategies before. For example, the issue of unsuccessful relocation attempts of individuals living in urban slums, understanding their mindset, culture and way of life could lead to more successful strategies to overcome this problem not only in Europe, but throughout the world!

Source: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/health/2013/11/04/5-kids-in-critical-condition-with-dengue-fever-in-nicaragua/