Topic: Managing Secondary Effects of Disease Outbreaks
Country: Palestine
Delegate Name: Lauren Nguyen
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Palestine position papers GLIMUN 2016 committees
When there is a disease outbreak, many governmental and non-governmental agencies spend much of their resources to medical research efforts so that the regions affected by the disease can be controlled; however, is there anything to be done to the secondary effects? Many people like tend to overlook the secondary effects until national economies are plummeting, productivity decreases and income rates decline. Secondary effects of disease outbreaks can often have as much of an impact on the region as the illness itself.
Palestine is a breeding ground for diseases and according to the Washington Press, this is due to polluted water, unsanitary conditions, and the lack of correct medical supplies to combat illnesses. Having already experienced secondary effects of diseases, Palestine is a good example of what is to come if governments overlook the secondary effects. People will suffer, company laborers forces will grow smaller, national productivity and income is to decrease. In 2013, a polio outbreak swept the region of Syria and was soon to affect Palestine. According to Sameeh Abu Rumailah, the local Coordinator of the vaccine and community leader, “twenty-thousand children were denied the vaccine by the Israeli authorities.” This caused an outcry because children can help promote equitable, inclusive societies, allowing more people to effectively participate in their economic development. Further decreasing its ability to regain economic stability, there must be something done to help combat the secondary effects.
In order to manage secondary effects of diseases, the UN must first educate the population that vaccinations are beneficial, doctors are supposed to fix, and diseases can be airborne so certain precautions must be applied. Palestine calls upon Israel to allow our people access to fresh water, vaccinations, and medicines in order to reduce disease. Furthermore, in order to stabilize economies that have suffered from outbreaks, countries must cut spending and taxes then allow for freer markets.
