Unity
Cholera, the deadly diahorreal disease, knows no difference between the rich and poor, no boundaries between industrialised and not so industrialised nations. The underlying factor? Human excrement. It’s present everywhere, in some places more visible than others. When not disposed of correctly, it contaminates simply due to its pathogenic nature. and ease of transmission. When combining these two factors with the ever increasing size of vulnerable populations living in densely populated areas, the scenario does not look good at all. This brings to mind a phrase which I’ve heard numerous times now “it’s not your toilet that protects your health, but your neighbours’”. Someone else’s mismanagement ultimately puts at risk the health of entire populations. This fact is not always understood thus causing a big problem.
A possible solution? “Mutual understanding” and “cooperation”, as an economist once wrote. The duty of every man to look after the needs of others. This thought raised questions within me on where there actually exist inherent bonds linking all of us, as members of a community. Do we actually act in ways which help improve the lives of others?
In this particular case with cholera, it’s recent re-emergence in places like Haiti has caused the death of more than 7000 people since 2010. Would this have happened had people considered their responsibility towards one another as members of a community? This sense of commitment is many a times simply taken for granted. The implications however of this, are as severe as the loss of someone else’s life.
A possible solution? “Mutual understanding” and “cooperation”, as an economist once wrote. The duty of every man to look after the needs of others. This thought raised questions within me on where there actually exist inherent bonds linking all of us, as members of a community. Do we actually act in ways which help improve the lives of others?
In this particular case with cholera, it’s recent re-emergence in places like Haiti has caused the death of more than 7000 people since 2010. Would this have happened had people considered their responsibility towards one another as members of a community? This sense of commitment is many a times simply taken for granted. The implications however of this, are as severe as the loss of someone else’s life.