Paul Farmer: Address the long-term health needs of Haitians

Today the Boston Globe reports on Paul Farmer's speech at Harvard School of Public Health, where he advocated for leveraging the world's current interest in Haiti towards transforming the country's health system as a whole. Read the article and watch the video here.

This sentiment, thankfully, has been shared many. Former JHSPH dean Alfred Sommer in his Washington Post piece called for investments in long-term public health needs in Haiti as well as in the U.S. During our on-campus discussion two weeks ago, our fellow students--who witnessed the devastating earthquake and its aftermath firsthand--emphasized the need to address the chronic health problems and infrastructure needs in Haiti.

Poor sanitation, low vaccination rates, health worker and supply shortages, undernutrition and related deficiencies, and infant and maternal mortality are just a few of the basic public health challenges currently faced. In light of these diverse health needs, how do you think priorities be set in the next few months? Post your thoughts in the comment section.

And if you haven't yet read Mountains Beyond Mountains, this would be an appropriate time to read about Paul Farmer's tireless battle against TB in Haiti and gain insight into the health challenges that Haiti faced even before the earthquake hit.