Controlling Infectious Diseases in Cuba
Question One
In 1981, Cuba formed arduous and dynamic environmental surveillance program to resist dengue hemorrhagic epidemic through its exceptional blend of PHC tactics drove the agenda. The government implemented actions that highly depended on the supply of economic resources such as employing individuals to fight the outbreak which included specialists such as educators, disposers, inspectors, and container retrieval (pp. 75). Environment surveillance team began active campaigns in marshalling persons as controllers and destroying breeding places for mosquitoes, while other specialists took their useful roles in controlling the outbreak. Through open hospitalization, environmental surveillance and health education, the mortality rates decreased. In late 1997, the government created passive surveillance testing and continuous testing of patients which resulted in being an effective solution for the outbreak since there was a total reduction in mortality rates after the second outbreak of the disease. On the other hand, anti-malarial operations began in February 1959 which included the establishment of legal basis to manage to disease, the formation of international agreements with ‘Pan American Health Organization’ (PAHO), passive testing at homes, defining malarial zone and further research.
Question Two
The Cuban government adopted various policies to eradicate the outbreaks of the diseases. Eradication policies made in malaria and Hague epidemics were slightly different from each other. Malaria epidemics eradication policies included, presumptive healthcare of victims, instant implementation of prevention measures, reporting and treatment, research on origin and transformation modes and signing of agreements with organizations to help the government in combating the disease (pp. 67). In eradicating Dengue fever, the Cuban government adopted passive and active surveillance, extensive hospitalization policy, environmental surveillance and health education (pp. 76). Also, there was the use of media to create awareness to the citizens.
Question Three
Cuba achieved amazing results in fighting malaria and Dengue fever outbreaks. According to the research on malaria epidemics, the campaigns reassessed from 1968 to 1970, there were pleasing results. After 1959 research on , there was an outcome that suppression of malaria as announced by WHO in 1967. Success on the eradication of Dengue fever is shown in the decrease of mortality rates (pp.77). According to research done in 1981 and 2001, there were fewer death rates in Cuba compared to other countries such as Colombia and Venezuela thus indicating that the policies taken were effective especially in sectors of medication, research and creation of awareness.
Question Four
The fight against outbreaks in Cuba triggered the economy and social status of the Cuban government. Diseases outbreaks lead to an increase in expenditure on medical facilities such as employing of educators, medical specialists, routine testing and other workers in the fields and crucial activities in social media which helps in creating awareness. Additionally, mortality affects the economy of a country due to loss of skilled labour, increase poverty and orphans.
Applied Analysis 3 Question
Cuban approach on HIV/AIDS is considered as most compelling and provocative due to its strict policies. The Cuban government used various tactics in fighting HIV/AIDS, which included national surveillance program which tracked known cases and partners and offered medical assistance of antiretroviral treatments and civic education and interference. In 1985, the government established further policies such as compulsory quarantines and replacement to sanatoriums of infected individuals, mandatory testing and the cesarean section of pregnant women, routine testing, invention of commercial tests and banning of imported blood (pp. 78). In the other hand, eradication of poliomyelitis which mainly affects children, was controlled by three strategies even though it had earlier caused a misunderstanding in the ministry of the health sector. The policy included foci- control activities if needed, high vaccination range in a week for every dose before an increase of infection rates in past summer months, and high surveillance of suspected case (pp. 67). The significant difference between two cases is that the government started research on control of HIV/AIDS before the first reported case in 1985 while it took more time in finding the vaccine for poliomyelitis even with its history of 1898 cases.
The fight and success of the two diseases were fueled by the education mechanisms and cooperation of the campaigns. Also, strict policies such as testing, research on diseases and employment of medical tools played a significant role in the eradication of disease outbreaks in Cuba. Although the campaigns were successful, there was an increase in spending of public capital in purchasing of medical instruments and providing public health and high death rates through outbreaks.