Here is a very interesting article I found from the Scientific American website. In this article, researchers were discussing a very exciting and creative possible solution for sepsis problems in malnourished children in low and middle income countries. The idea is to take something that is normally seen as a problem--traces of cow vaccinations making their way into milk--and attempting to make it a solution. The researchers' plan is to vaccinate dairy cows against sepsis-causing bacteria. Theoretically, antibodies against the bacteria will also be present in the cow's colostrum (first milk) along with a variety of other antibodies usually present in the colostrum. This milk, which they claim is produced in quite large quantities by the cows, would then be relatively cost-effective to distribute to malnourished children. Hopefully the antibodies would be able to keep harmful bacteria from entering the bloodstream and leading to sepsis. Although researchers seem to be quite unsure about whether their idea will work, I think it is a fantastic example of the kind of creative thinking that leads to global health breakthroughs. After all, where would we be without the then-radical ideas of public health pioneers like Florence Nightingale and John Snow?
I think this article is the perfect example of the "out of the box" type thinking that is needed for change to be effective in public health issues. Like we mentioned in class, we often use policy and bans/mandates as a crutch, hoping that it will be enough to make effective change. Unfortunately, there are some problems that cannot be solved by contract or law. Instead, we must look towards other solutions. This article proves that solutions come in places that we least expect them. We normally try to avoid cow vaccinations in our milk, but the fact that these scientists thought of the possibility that injections of vaccines could be beneficial is really amazing.
ReplyDeleteI think that this article also is a great indication of the opportunity that is arising in the field of public health. There is never a dull moment and there is always something new to be discovered. The opportunities are out there, but it is just a matter of someone going out and making it happen. We talked in class today about how public health is relatively new and quickly expanding. This article proves this true. Reform and solutions are needed everywhere there is sickness and poor health, so the opportunity for discovery is in a sense, unlimited. Creativity is key.
I really like this article because it digs deeper into public health than just the surface. In an ever-so-changing field such as global health, things such as policies, legislation, statistics, medications, prevention techniques, resources, etc. are always transforming and the need for people who can take their ideas and critically weave them into these alterations is what public health needs to keep on their toes.
ReplyDeleteNot only is creativity key, but the ability to relatively incorporate public health in the things that you do is essential as well. Learning about public health and living public health are two different things that mesh together to create wonderful ideas such as the one illustrated in this article. I think we need to all keep public health in the backs of our minds, whatever we are doing, because it causes us to question situations and rationalize answers to the problems we face. Simply encountering a situation and thinking of borderline solutions to it is not enough to keep up with our ever changing field of global health.