How Natural Disasters Impact Global Healthcare

The importance of global healthcare becomes highlighted during disaster. Many hospitals currently operate at near or maximum capacity. When unexpected natural disasters strike an area, hospitals are flooded with critical patients in which staff, supplies, and room is crucial for the survival of patients. If a disaster occurs in low income countries, such countries usually do not have the ability to handle an immediate response in terms of treatment and shelter which can result in inadequate management of people as well as further disasters relating to spread of diseases.

In 2010, Haiti suffered from a 7.0 magnitude earthquake and as a result, many were killed, injured, and homes were destroyed. Food became scarce and diseases such as cholera began to spread. Before the earthquake, Haiti was the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere in which 80% of the population lived below the poverty line. The country does not have a healthcare system in which facilities carry limited support staff, equipment, and treatment. Countries did aid in the earthquake disaster but Haiti still suffers from damage that happened eight years ago due to the severely weakened healthcare system.

Although Haiti and the Dominican Republic are one island, the two countries differ greatly in healthcare in which the Dominican Republic’s GDP is seven times greater than Haiti. Life expectancy between the two countries differs by almost 10 years. It is unfortunate to see that Haiti is still recovering from an earthquake that occurred many year ago while nearby countries are improving their economies and health systems. It is essential to aid countries in need in order to improve global healthcare and better prepare for natural disasters.

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