The explosion of protests throughout the middle east has implications for public health (see article).
Dr. Eric Laroche, the WHO's Assistant Director General for Health Action in Crises has taken actions to prevent epidemics in Tunisia that may result from both the close proximity of protesters to one another and the living conditions for refugees escaping political unrest.
Dr. Laroche emphasized that refugees who have poured into shelters along the Tunisian-Libyan border are especially vulnerable for health crises.
Establishing a means for fast detection and communication of information regarding potential epidemics has been a major focus of Dr. Laroche's preventative measures.
This article is an excellent example of how political stability is a prerequisite for health security. What other public health consequences might result from unrest in Tunisia, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Bahrain, Oman, Iraq, Maritana, and other areas in the Middle East?
Confused about recent events in the Middle East? For a brief summary clarifying the origin and progression of political unrest in each individual country in the Middle East, follow this link.
As we have seen in class recently, any political or economic changes will have ramifications for the health of that society. I assumed these rapid changes in power in the Middle East would have an impact of population health, but until I read this article, I did not realize how serious of a health problem this shift is going to cause. Especially for refugees, health may be one of the last things on most of these people's minds. With almost no water availability, making sure to drink clean water becomes less of a priority. I also cannot imagine how any refugee could have great access to health care and any medications that they need.
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