Dis-ease Dilemmas - CASE STUDIES

Question 1

Where is Bangladesh located?

Answer 1

North-east part of South Asia. Bordered by West Bengal, Manipur and Patna.

Question 2

What are some positives of river flooding in Bangladesh?

Answer 2

Delivers 1 billion tonnes of fertile soil, which supports local communities.
The soil comes down from the Himalayas through 200 rivers, mainly the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna.
80% of country’s land area benefits from flooding.

Question 3

How will climate change affect Bangladesh in the long-term?

Answer 3

Regional subsidence caused by plate tectonics makes the country more liable to river and coastal flooding.

Question 4

How did the 2020 floods affect those in Bangladesh?

Answer 4

Caused epidemic of diarrhoea, typhoid and hepatitis - Drinking water and food became contaminated by bacteria in floodwater.
750,000 waterlogged, 1900 homes destroyed, 4500 became ill due to contaminated water.

Question 5

How have NGOs and the Bangladeshi govt. reduced the impact of diarrhoea?

Answer 5

Use of oral rehydration solution (ORS)
Encouraging hand-washing and sanitary latrines
Water purification tablets
These policies have saved approx. 70,000 lives. Has been a huge achievement in a place with a hazardous environment.

Question 6

What is an endemic disease?

Answer 6

A disease that exists permanently in a geographical area/population group.
(Sleeping sickness and Chagas)

Question 7

What is an epidemic?

Answer 7

An outbreak of disease that attacks many people in a restricted geographical area.
(Ebola disease)

Question 8

What is a pandemic?

Answer 8

An epidemic that has spread worldwide
(COVID-19)

Question 9

Where is India located?

Answer 9

In south Asia, bordered by Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.

Question 10

What is the biggest cause of air pollution in India?

Answer 10

Emissions of particulates, NO3 and SO2 from vehicles and coal power stations/factories.

Question 11

What diseases are those in India susceptible to?

Answer 11

Lung cancer, hypertension, asthma, bronchitis, heart disease.

Question 12

What are the maximum pollution levels set by the WHO and India NAAQS?

Answer 12

WHO = 10 micrograms/m3
India NAAQS = 40 micrograms/m3

Question 13

What are some national solutions that have been fulfilled?

Answer 13

Launching of National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) - has increased no. of air quality monitoring stations.
14 cities are building rapid-transit metro systems.
Restrictions on burning stubble in rural areas.

Question 14

What are some global solutions that have been fulfilled?

Answer 14

EU has provided approx. €2.8 billion to:
Support air quality measures under European Structural & Investment Funds.
Upgrade Europe’s rail networks + develop alternative fuel structures.

Question 15

Where is Ethiopia located?

Answer 15

In northeastern Africa, bordered by Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and Kenya.

Question 16

Where are the most cases of malaria distributed in Ethiopia?

Answer 16

Western lowlands (Tigray, Amhara, Gambella), due to rainy seasons (Jun-Nov)
Less cases in eastern lowlands and midlands - higher relief, arid climate + mosquitoes are confined to river valleys. Central highlands = malaria-free.

Question 17

What are some environmental causes of malaria on Ethiopia?

Answer 17

Relief of land.
Temp. + humidity are high across the year in western lowlands.
Stagnant surface water.

Question 18

What are some human causes of malaria in Ethiopia?

Answer 18

High seasonal pop. movement between malaria-free highlands + agricultural lowlands = same time as rainy season + peak malaria transmission.
Irrigation = expanded breeding habitats for mosquitoes.

Question 19

What are some socio-economic impacts of malaria?

Answer 19

Poorly built homes = less barriers to mosquitoes.
Decreases economic growth = people infected are unable to work and leads to huge loss in production.
Overwhelms health services.
Food security = lowlands are resource-rich, but malaria is endemic.

Question 20

What are the strategies put in place to treat malaria?

Answer 20

Use of malarial drugs, such as chloroquine, artemisinin therapies and mefloquine.
Intervention from NMSP + RBM = use of mosquito nets, residual spraying, larval source reduction.
Intensifying malarial control with the WHO’s Global Technical Strategy.

Question 21

Where is the UK located?

Answer 21

In Europe, bordered by the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean.

Question 22

What is cancer?

Answer 22

The mutation of a cell’s DNA that causes it to multiply rapidly.

Question 23

What are some socio-economic CAUSES of cancer in the UK?

Answer 23

Links have been found between socio-economic increasing and cancers of the colon, prostate and breast and skin melanoma.

Question 24

What are cultural causes of cancer in the UK?

Answer 24

Sunbathing/sunbeds = risk of skin cancer, as it widely advertised and more affordable holidays to hot destinations.
Changed in diet = increased income leads to fast food and pre-packed meals (risk of bowel cancer).
Alcohol consumption = increases risk of oral and liver cancer.

Question 25

What are some socio-economic IMPACTS of cancer in the UK?

Answer 25

Kills 35,000 people of working age each year = less workers in labour force.
Many may not return to work = extensive chemotherapy and after effects of cancer. Reduces the persons’ economic productivity.
Cancer survival rates are affected by socio-economic status.
Deprivation rates = increases likeliness to smoke, drink and become obese.

Question 26

What are some govt. and international strategies to mitigate cancer?

Answer 26

Investments in advanced medical tech (precise radiotherapy, endoscopy for early diagnosis).
Developing mass screening, new treatments, understanding of disease, potentiality of genetic engineering.
International Agency for Research on Cancer = conduct epidemiology and lab research.
Govt. has controlled usage of sunbeds, advice on sunscreens, clothes, and checking for cancerous lesions.

Question 27

Where is Haiti located?

Answer 27

In the Caribbean, bordered opposite the Dominican Republic, also in the middle of the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.

Question 28

Stats and facts of earthquake (primary impacts - 2010)…

Answer 28

Magnitude: 7
Death toll: 30,000 - 300,000
Thousands affected housed in makeshift camps.
Many buildings collapsed as they weren’t made with earthquakes in mind.

Question 29

Stats and facts of earthquake (secondary impacts - 2010)…

Answer 29

Cholera outbreak in October 2010, brought by Nepalese soldiers brought to help those in Haiti cope with the disaster.
Spread rapidly, and was endemic in the country until Nov 2014.
Resulted in 720,000 cases and 8700 deaths.

Question 30

How did the British Red Cross help with the cholera outbreak in Haiti?

Answer 30

Delivered clean drinking water to around 300,000 people within Port-au-Prince.
1300 latrines for 250,000 people and raising awareness among locals.
Medical supplies sent to main hospital in Saint Marc.
18,700 cases treated in treatments units.

Question 31

What are positives of NGO intervention during the outbreak in Haiti?

Answer 31

People were able to be treated at local hospitals
Cholera vaccination scheme created
Lots of investment to ensure the disease didn’t become permanently endemic in the country.

Question 32

What are the negatives NGO intervention during the outbreak in Haiti?

Answer 32

Many still didn’t have access to chlorinated drinking water.
After first 6 months, only 1 waste management system in a city with 3 mil people.
Cholera was able to travel at a fast rate, because little sanitation improvements were made.