I appologize for the non-craft related nature of my past few postings...and this one. On the topic of Ebola: Is it an issue we need to watch?..yes. Has it been the soup de jour of the news the past few weeks?...yes and fear is the tag line. More Americans died of the flu in 2013 then Ebola worldwide in this outbreak and the future may hold the very same results. In the US the average of flu related deaths are between 3,000 to over 30,000...quite the swing, but it depends on which strain is out there in force and how you count the data. It is, more than Ebola, a threat that is and has been here and will continue. cdc.gov/flu/weekly/ npr.org/blogs/health/2010/08/26/129456941/annual-flu-death-average-fluctuates-depending-on-how-you-slice-it What is known is that we need to fight Ebola in Africa or (as we say with terrorism..we will fight it here at home). There is a need for more healthcare workers to go to Africa and do the treatment there...but at what incentive? Aside from the possible deterrent of the NJ/NY governor quarantine issue I think several things can be done to help in very short order. I see several things that will help. That is IF you really think Ebola is an issue. 1)military 2)forgive or reduce to bank rates student loans for medical folk who go 3)ask...just ask...retired medical folk to aid in the effort. 1)The US military is there in some numbers and when I served in the Army Medical we had quick response medical tents (they seem to be using a rather upgraded version of what I was trained in)...this is good. The military can hit the ground running as they say..just as the NGO medical groups did who have been on the front line of this issue. The US military has the best logistics in the world...we can get things done when asked and given the OK. 2)The US graduates about 17,000 doctors a year with an average debt of $162,000 in loans. Nurses are around $30,000 give or take. The rate paid for the loan for docs is on hold till they finish residency...about three years...which is good. The Federal fund rate is 0.75% (rate at which banks can borrow money)...student loan rates are much higher. I think ALL student loans should be at the Federal Fund Rate, but that is a another issue.. Most new docs can not take the financial burden of Doctors without Borders and other NGO medical groups. You see..there is not much money in charity (there is money in charity fundraising as all the tele-market companies seem to do well). If you wish them to help how about helping them out with rock bottom loans or even loan forgiveness for putting themselves out there? Conditions can be imposed for duration of the time they serve and where, but certainly things can be done to get help where it is needed and good doctors back after they did the service. That is..IF you really want their help. 3) Ask the retired medical folk to help. Set it up so they can put their life on hold for a bit and get involved with an organized trip to help. Set up a timeframe and info on what they will be doing, where and with whom. Show them that all is ready and they just need to do medicine...eating, sleeping, all kit is there and waiting...all you need is them. It is not enough to have it in position, you need to do a concerted effort to INVITE them to participate. The military can provide much of what is needed for support and the civilian medical would rotate through .....and I would think the NGOs there would appreciate the help as well. The above is predicated on the assumption that we really wish to help fight this over there....but do we? It may be time for the ounce of prevention to avoid the pound of cure. Ric
Posted on: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 14:57:02 +0000
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