UNAR World Health Organization. Committee Overview

Transcription

1 Committee Overview Managing Ebola Survivors Pharmaceutical Accessibility and Distribution in Developing Countries Persistent of Yellow Fever in Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo Establishing International Guidelines on Disease Control in Humanitarian Crises Committee Description This committee will be run Harvard Style, meaning that resolutions are not to be written until the date of the conference itself. Additionally, it is highly suggested that every delegate write at least one position paper on a topic, as doing so will be necessary to be considered for an award. Position papers are a great research tool and help show a delegate s preparedness. As this is the, we will be discussing various issues having to do with the many facets of public health such as disease and healthcare infrastructure. While writing position papers is not required, every delegate should come to committee with knowledge of the following topics. Chairs Katherine Scardino scardino.kj@gmail.com Hello delegates! I am a 12 th grade Theatre Technology major at School of the Arts and this is my second time chairing and third year participating in Model UN. I enjoy working the theatre and spend my summers as a beach lifeguard. If you have any questions you can me or Olivia and we will get back to right away. I m very excited to be spending my last MUN event at WHO and hope you guys are too. Olivia Segal oliviasegal@rochester.rr.com Hello delegates! I m an 11 th grade student at Penfield High School and this is my second year of Model UN and my first time chairing. In addition to participating in my school s Model UN club, I also participate in Mock Trial and play for the varsity field hockey team. I can t wait to share my first chairing experience with all of you in one of my favorite committees. Feel free to contact me with any questions that you may have we would love to answer them!

2 UNAR 2017 Topic One: Managing Ebola Survivors Ebola is a contagious disease with a mortality rate that averages 50%. Since the 2014 outbreak the international community has banded together to find and provide treatment and care. However, left in the wake of this epidemic is a growing community: Ebola survivors. There are more Ebola survivors from the 2014 outbreak than any of the previous outbreaks. Ebola survivors face chronic illness because of damage from the virus, with symptoms varying from person to person. Without concrete effects, it is even harder to diagnose if an ailment is a result of the Ebola virus. With further research still required to know if survivors can infect healthy persons, the stigma against survivors is unwavering. Ebola survivors are often ignored by health officials and national governments. The social stigma against Ebola survivors is high, with many being shunned from their communities. This emotional abuse is detrimental to mental health, resulting in ailments which many developing nations are not equipped to treat. This lack of treatment is contributing the mortality rate of Ebola survivors, harming not only recovery but also study of the long-term effects of Ebola. How can we support the mental health of Ebola survivors? How can the UN enforce treatment in these nations without infringing on national sovereignty? How do we prevent a recurrence of these issues in the event of another outbreak? In tra Hea lth : / ah ea lth.or g/ vita l/ebo la-tra ns mission s- en dg uinea - wh at-a bou t- h ero es-left-beh in d CD C: h ttps:/ / dc.g ov/vh f/ebo la/ ou tbrea ks/2014 -west a frica /su rvivor s.html Scien tific Amer ic a n: w.scientifica mer ic an.co m/ ar tic le/ why- ebo lasu rvivor s-stru g gle -with- ne w-sym pto ms /

3 Topic Two: Pharmaceutical Accessibility and Distribution in Developing Countries Though the global consumption of pharmaceuticals has been steadily increasing over the past few decades, developing countries still have very little access to these products. Medications that treat HIV, tuberculosis, and other highly communicable diseases are lacking in the areas that need them the most: Africa, Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific. Additionally, medicines to treat mental health disorders are even more lacking. According to WHO, 70% of patients in low income countries do not have adequate access to medication for mental health issues. Since these life-saving remedies such as HIV and TB medications are not made in these areas but imported, they come at a high price that most people cannot afford. Because of this, people in developing, low-income countries often turn to counterfeit medications due to their cheaper price. These counterfeit medications are often packaged like their brand-name counterpart, but can be ineffective or even harmful to those that take them. While there is a degree of pharmaceutical manufacture in these developing countries, manufacturers tend to be inefficient and produce poor-quality products. This is due the numerous obstacles they face, such as lack of qualified personnel, lack of funds and regulation, and lack of basic infrastructure. What can WHO do to increase accessibility of essential medications in developing countries? How can pharmaceutical manufacturers in developing countries be improved? What can be done to prevent the diffusion of counterfeit medication? How can an efficient and sustainable system to distribute pharmaceuticals in developing countries be created without infringing on national sovereignty? The Hippocratic Post: D+C Development and Cooperation: The Conversation:

4 opic Three: Persistence of Yellow Fever in Angola and Democratic Republic of Cong Yellow fever is an incurable infection spread through mosquitos, primates, and humans. It is a contagious disease that most greatly impacts subtropical climates and causes an average of 200,000 infections and 30,000 deaths yearly. That average has been steadily on the rise. While it is preventable by vaccine, many nations lack the resources to effectively vaccinate and treat the disease. In December of 2015 a small outbreak of yellow fever was detected in Luanda, Angola. Since then the outbreak has grown, spreading into neighboring nation, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As of right now the outbreak is responsible for approximately 4,000 cases of yellow fever and 400 deaths in Angola alone. Currently the Ministry of Health in Angola has partnered with the World Health Organization to conduct an emergency vaccination campaign. However, with the disease spreading throughout Africa, more international support may be required. The yellow fever outbreak has a high risk of spreading into neighboring countries, and related cases in Kenya and The People s Republic of China have already been identified. Fractional dosing has been proposed as a short-term fix, but with cases growing experts are seeking a more permanent solution. How can the spread of yellow fever across borders be prevented without infringing on national sovereignty? What can be done to aid those who have already contracted yellow fever? How is the persistence of yellow fever hurting national economies? What is the best solution to restrict yellow fever in the long term? The Guardian: CDC: WHO: sitrep_2jun2016_eng.pdf?ua=1

5 Topic Four: Establishing International Guidelines for Disease Control in Humanitarian Crise In the midst and aftermath of humanitarian crises, infectious disease spreads at an alarming rate. This risk of disease is primarily associated with displaced peoples, otherwise known as refugees. Refugee crises and other humanitarian emergencies such as natural disasters are often characterized by overcrowded and unsanitary conditions conditions that promote the spread of diseases. These outbreaks are often exacerbated due to the large amounts of malnourished people and lack of vaccinations that are found in developing countries, creating more susceptibility to disease and therefore faster spread of disease. In refugee crises where there are large populations of displaced peoples, disease is rampant. Poor conditions such as contaminated water supply, lack of shelter, and exposure to the elements cause digestive illnesses as well as respiratory and skin infections. These diseases many of which are infectious spread quickly due to overcrowding. Natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and any other event that ravages an area are also crises in which disease is spread quickly. This, like in refugee situations, is due to exposure to the elements, overcrowding, and lack of access to clean water and latrine systems. What points should guidelines to disease control focus on for the best results? How will these guidelines be implemented efficiently? How can WHO implement these international guidelines without infringing on national sovereignty? CDC: Pacific Standard: Doctors Without Borders: