the cost of war, the cost of health...

One of our readings (Institute of Medicine's Microbial Threats to Health: Emergence, Detection, and Response) describes in detail what we need to do to prepare for such threats ("The United States should seek to enhance the global capacity for response to infectious disease threats, focusing in particular on threats in the developing world... The United States should take a leadership role in promoting the implementation of a comprehensive system of surveillance for global infectious diseases..." etc. etc.) and defined the specific roles of various agencies that should be responsible. I loved that it was so specific in its prescription for the future of public health in this country. I feel that I could refer to it again and again. But it was also interesting that in the month that this article came out (March 2003), we began the war in Iraq.

In class this week, we discussed the cost of a rapid-impact package to help fight neglected diseases amongst the poorest people in the world. This "pro-poor" package is estimated to cost US$200 million. Someone brought up the price of the Iraq War, and I found a website (or costofwar.com) that gives the running total of tax-payer dollars going to the war. It is shocking, silencing. When I started this entry, $200 million was 1/1808th of how much we (the tax payers) have spent.

Ironically, the article states, "Despite our past achievements, we have still not done enough in our defense, or in the defense of others." Almost four years and billions (or trillions?) of dollars later, we are still fighting both wars. It is my hope that we can at least turn the tide in the one against infectious diseases.