To: Donald Trump, the president of the United States.
From: Student’s Name, the Secretary of State.
Date: 4th May, 2020.
Subject: Dealing with the Infectious Disease Outbreak in Columbia.
Subject and Background
In the distant past, health was never an issue of national priority. However, nowadays the government, through policies has elevated health issues that could affect a State’s foreign policy and security to national status. The identification has drummed the attention of congress and thus offers the issue more political backing and resources. However, such identification could affect how a disease is treated, as persons begin looking for solutions outside the health community. Therefore, policy makers must carry the identification process cautiously, and slowly to avoid grave mistakes. US’s foreign policy offers ways of dealing with infectious diseases. The one in Columbia does not respect borders, and has the capability of affecting the domestic interests of the US, thus, the government must treat it as a foreign policy issue. Infectious illnesses that negatively affect a country’s political weather, lead to disorder and affect its economy are touted as national security concerns. Researchers have laid bear the fact that Columbia’s outbreak is capable of destroying the US economy, thus, the government must label it as a security concern.
The case in Colombia has the capability of reaching extreme levels. Many countries have already effected travel and trade barriers with Colombia to protect their domestic interests. These restrictions do not affect Colombia alone, they also affect all the coutries that reiside in the South American region. All this confirms is the fact that the disease has the power of causing worldwide pandemic outbreaks, therefore affecting our great country. Previous encounters prove that their is a problem with the global respondence to disease outbreaks, with researchers touching on globalization as the likely culprit. Thus, our government must inject more funds to the realization of global preparednes on health security matters since health officials now lack the proper ways to dealing with pandemics. Therefore, a disease like the Colombian one can wreak havoc on humanity and in the process affecting American interests. The NSC must therefore carefully analyze matters in Columbia, and decide whether to impose certain restrictions.
Objectives
- Make sure the US is prepared in handling any outbreaks.
The main causative factor of this poor preparedness is globalization, as it leads to climate change, population growth, improved transport systems and urbanization – all which aid in the spread of a deadly disease. A suitable remeady is adding monies meant for the realization of effective preparedness.
- Realize a functional and effective global health governance system
Having interests in multiola countries, the US must put efforts to the attainance of an international health governance system. A way of doing this is by collaborating with world orgajizations and funding their activities. NGO’S dealing with health also offer other avenues of realizing an worldwide health governance.
- Assist in bettering the Columbia health care system
Efforts directed at ending the pandemic in Colombia act to safeguard American interests there. Bettering their health system will eliminate human suffering, thus, stabilize their climates and develop their economy, which will in turn affect US positively.
- Weigh the pros and cons of any interventions
It is our duty to Colombia to try as much as possible to help them fight, and transition after the pandemic is defeated. However, the US must act in way that absolves it of any major losses – act in the interest of its citizens.
- Make sure the flow of oil is uninterrupted
According to data, Colombia exports almost half of its oil to the US. This means that the two coubtries are majorly dependent on each other. Lack of oil in the US may cause civil unrest and economic failire, thus its in the State’s best interest to ensure that oil flows freely.
- Ensure that regional security is upheld in the Americas
Security in the south america region is key for political stability, and economic development. Other countries that have invested in the south, benefit fron this security. Thus, the US must ensure key regional blocks and countries play their part.
Options and Analysis
I would urge policy makers not to rush in formulating any policies but instead base their decisions on data. Researchers studying pandemic response urge leaders to plan their actions, as it is crucuial in avoiding any quick and hazardous effects of infectious diseases. Writings of National policies dedicated to the control of pandemics usually contain several rough ways of controlling epidemics. However, a smart way to handle matters is by focussing on the process of policy selection, which involves analyzing data.
- Use analytical methods: an imperative advantage of this method is that it gives people situational awareness – key facts about the infection such as severity. Experts also suggest that the method probabilities of the likely outcome of each poilcy. However, its biggest flaw is the fact that it is extremely difficult to integrate this analytic values with the advise contained in most policy documents. Acquisition of data is a fairly expensive method.
- Use decision models: an advantage of such models is that due to their adaptive nature, policy makers often find it east to solve complex pandemics no matter the conditions. Additionally, experts are able to integrate evidence emanating from interventional and situational tools, with data contained in policy writtings. The effect of this that robust options to handling the pandemic arise. However its biggest con is the fact that it cannot account for political, social, and ethical considerations, which influence decisions. Using this method to acquire data is a fairly expensive method.
Recommendation and Justification
As earlier mentioned, finding the correct policy to choose from is a process that involves examining key data. Additionally, concentrating on data examination is a smarter way to deal with pandemics than delving into the selection of policies. In short, let the methods of data examination lead the committee in selecting the preferred policy, which will combat the pandemic. Thus, focus is on data analytics methods. After thorough research, i conclude that method two will bettet help the US deal with the Colombia based pandemic.
First, as already mentioned, the decision model offers a framework necessary for dealing with numerous policies under difficult and everchanging conditions. Additionally, it is far more easier to intergrate its evidence into policy documents, therefore, providing abundant advice on the best policy. Its only drawback is that it cannot account for the political, ethical, and social aspects that influence the decision making process. However, one can solve this drawback by incorporating the model in a support system that emphasizes that aspect. On matters of cost, both methods are fairly pricy so it should not be a determinant.