Topic: Controlling Biting-Insect Populations
Country: Colombia
Delegate Name: Lindsey Hart
School: Mattawan High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Colombia position papers GLIMUN 2015 committees
Accounting of 17% of all infectious diseases, vector-borne illness greatly affects numerous countries across the globe. Millions of people die each year from these types of diseases, ranging from young children to elderly adults. Combating this problem is incredibly important in the development and welfare of all countries. Basic protective measures, such as bed nets, to combat vector-borne are often cheap and useful, but often ineffective during the waking hours. Measures for the waking hours need to be taken into consideration. The welfare of the citizens is at risk until this problem is solved, and millions will continue dying in the process. Assuring that the elimination of these insects doesn’t occur needs to be taken into consideration as well, especially if they are vital for agricultural means.
Colombia is greatly affected by vector-borne illness; more recently, they have undergone problems with yellow fever, leishmaniasis, dengue fever, chagas disease, and chikungunya. These diseases have caused problems throughout the country, and they are looking for a way to combat it. While Colombia wishes to have solution to the vector-borne illnesses, they are weary of completely eliminating them. Agriculture plays a large role in Colombia’s economy, and it would be detrimental for the economy if the agriculture sector was harmed by this. Colombia hopes to find a solution that increases protection for the citizens without causing harm to agriculture, while trying to increase training and awareness about the vector-borne illnesses.
Colombia suggests an increase in citizen protection against vector-borne illnesses and making these measures accessible to everyone to best fight the problem. This has grown to a global problem, rather than an individual country problem. Diseases can easily spread across country lines, infecting those who need the protection. Countries need to readily have protective measures available to the masses. Colombia looks forward to working with any country who has similar struggles with vector-borne illnesses, or those willing to help make advances in solving the issue at hand.
