Ebola: The Merciless Killer

As Ebola has spread across Africa so has fear of this vicious virus. So far, according to the Center for Disease Control, Ebola has spread to a confirmed five countries since its outbreak in Guinea. The mortality has been thought to be up to 90%, meaning 9 out of 10 people infected with Ebola dies. One of the main challenges of fighting Ebola is containment: due to lack of proper health and sanitation care in African, this has become one of the most prominent reasons the virus has continued to spread. The international community has attempted to help control containment by putting international troops in these infected countries in attempt to try and contain the disease. However, I think the best way to control this virus (along with many other diseases) is to find the root of the problem – public health. By donating money and supporting foundations to help with public sanitation and health in Africa, other countries can in turn help with overcoming viruses such as Ebola. It is essential that other nations attempt to help in the fight against Ebola – otherwise, Ebola will go from some horrific-far-away-disease to a reality in our nation. Unless Ebola is stopped in its tracks, it WILL spread to other nations and become even more of a worldwide problem. This Ebola issue has affected how I think about health and medicine in my community because it has made me realize that access to good health care universally may be the ticket to stopping these diseases before they even start.

Works Cited:

“How Can We Help Fight the Ebola Outbreak?” KQED Education KQED Public Media for Northern CA. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Sept. 2014.

FLOW

FLOW (For the Love of Water) is a documentary about the water crisis which is occurring in the world today. This crisis includes sanitation of water worldwide, the lack of availability of clean drinking water in many countries, and how we are using up this essential, natural resource at a rapid pace. This film truly opened my eyes. As Americans with 100% access to fresh water, it is too easy for us to forget or not fully be able to comprehend that so many do not have access at all. In many places, especially in Africa, Southern Asia, and parts of Central/South America, getting water is a daily struggle which involves walking miles and miles in the burning sun just to get subpar, dirty water. We also do not seem to realize how much of this precious water we put to waste. After watching this film I am much more conscious of how much water I use and have been making changes to limit my water usage such as shorter showers and catching water in a bucket while I wait for the water to heat up.

This documentary has not only raised my awareness of this issue but has inspired me to try and help. There is a petition to make access to water a human right through the United Nations, and immediately after watching this movie I went to sign it. You can view this petition and sign it too by clicking here! (I highly encourage it – is there really ANY downside to helping others gain access to one of the bare necessities of life?) This movie has also made me hopeful that my school repeats a fundraiser that we have done in previous years to raise money (along with our brother and sister school) to build a well in a village in Africa. I will definitely be vying for it and if our school does decide on it, I will be donating all that I can.

Lastly, and most importantly, this video has really sparked an interest in me for traveling abroad and doing some peace work/charity in third world countries. I want to help in absolutely any way that I can. As I am applying to colleges, I am keeping this in mind and am looking farther into study abroad programs, emphasis on charity programs, and the passing out of grants in every college that I am applying to in hopes that maybe someday I can take part in a project such as building a well in Africa or funding a project to filter out water. In a couple weeks I will be flying to L.A. and meeting with a family friend who has just done similar projects in Kenya to get her input and learn about her experiences.

If you (like myself) are curious about FLOW and would like to learn more, I will post the link here for your viewing pleasures.  Below I will also link a video that you can watch to farther educate yourself about the issue.

Thank you and have a great day!

Works Cited:

For the Love of Water. Dir. Irena Salina. Prod. Steven Starr. Oscilloscope Laboratories, 2009. DVD.