Diving into Topic A : Preventing the Spread of Disease in Urban Areas

With diseases easily spreading between cities and nations, it is imperative that there is communication and united action on how to mitigate the spread. 


From 2014-2016, the Ebola outbreak started in rural southeastern Guinea, spread through urban areas, and eventually became a global epidemic. One of the reasons why this disease spread so easily was that residents of Guinea moved through many cities and nations due to reasons of work or family. In addition, cultural beliefs and practices played a large role in the spread of Ebola. As people were dying from this disease, traditional burial and funeral practices brought families in contact with the deceased individual, continuing the spread of the disease. There was not a united action in how to address the epidemic and Ebola spread at a fast rate. 


An example of an organization that places great emphasis in reshaping government communication and policies is the Resilient Cities Network. The Resilient Cities Network aims to address pressing problems in urban areas by supporting cities in the development, funding, and implementation of their ideas. One of their ongoing projects includes the utilization of a toolkit, specifically the Toolkit for a Resilient Recovery. This toolkit serves as a framework for guided discussions and specific timelines. The goal behind the toolkit is to provide guidance to local governments on how to identify problems and opportunities for change. In addition, it places great emphasis not on only physical solutions, but also the importance of addressing cultural practices. The Resilient Cities Network is one of many organizations and programs that have a great emphasis in reshaping government communication and policies. 


Here are some parting discussion questions.

  1.  How can nations address the issue of different political contexts and priorities when attempting to create a united solution to mitigate the spread of diseases in urban areas. 

  2. How can nations address cultural practices that help further the spread of diseases in a respectful manner? 


Cheers, 

Tess



Links: 

  1. https://resilientcitiesnetwork.org/programs/cities-for-a-resilient-recovery/

  2. https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/history/summaries.html#:~:text=Since%20its%20discovery%20in%201976,a%20global%20epidemic%20within%20months.

  3. https://www.mercycorps.org/blog/ebola-outbreaks-africa-guide/chapter-2

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