Topic: Managing Secondary Effects of Disease Outbreaks
Country: South Africa
Delegate Name: Jenna Bowker
School: Kalamazoo Central High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All South Africa position papers GLIMUN 2016 committees
In South Africa, we have prevalent infectious diseases that are the main targets of our preventative efforts. These diseases are yellow fever, food-borne illnesses, and Hepatitis A. Each of these has the potential to have a significant impact on the social environment, long term health outcomes and economic development. Because yellow fever is curable, but leaves people disabled if it is not treated, this disease has been a specific target of health officials. Many other infections spread through the mosquito and can be prevented with the proper deterrents. Hepatitis A is widespread but is being contained thanks in part to vaccines. These diseases are prevalent in very poor populations due to malnutrition, poor housing, and weak sanitation systems.
One of the secondary effects of these diseases is social displacement. People are ostracized due to fear of contagious disease. It ostracizes mostly poor or underdeveloped areas found in almost all countries. It also impacts the state of mind of the victim, leading to less productivity, depression, and anxiety.
To address this, South Africa believes that education about the disease to its citizens is critical to reduce the spread of these infectious diseases. Education can occur through the media, schools, and places of worship. A second approach is to expose non-infected citizens to individuals to vaccines and create small medical clinics throughout poor or undeveloped areas to assist in the treatment of these diseases. South Africa has always strived to contain or lessen the impact infectious diseases throughout Africa through the African Union and through our education outreach programs.
