In the dimly lit backroom of global health politics, where decisions are whispered rather than announced, a familiar spectre lurksa spectre that refuses to be consigned to history. Cholera, an ancient disease long thought to be a relic of the past in the Western world, is spreading its voracious grasp across 32 countries, leaving over 6,800 dead this year alone. A number that chillingly surpasses last years death toll, which had already surged by 50% from 2023. But why, in this age of medical marvels, does cholera persist? Whose interests are served by its grim continuance?
The Evidence
Let us sift through the detritus of data and declarations. At the forefront of this battle stands Hakainde Hichilema, President of Zambia, and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization. Their voices rise above the din, calling for an expansion of vaccine production, especially in Africa, where the diseases grip is most tenacious. Yet, as they decry the lack of political will, one must ask: who stands to lose should this disease be eradicated?
Despite the availability of vaccines, production remains appallingly inadequate. The Global Task Force on Cholera Control estimates that a mere fraction of the required doses are being manufactured. Why? The answer, as always, may lie in the intricacies of global economics and the stakeholders who pull the strings.
The Pattern
Choleras persistence is a symptom of a larger malaisea global system where healthcare is dictated by profit margins rather than public need. The pharmaceutical giants, who control vaccine production, have little incentive to ramp up manufacturing for diseases that predominantly affect poorer nations. Where is the profit in curing a disease that ravages those who can barely afford the treatment?
This is a tale as old as capitalism itself, reminiscent of the economic machinations that kept AIDS drugs out of reach for millions in Africa for years. The power structures remain steadfast, with wealthier nations often dictating which health crises warrant urgent attention based on potential returns rather than humanitarian need.
Why It Matters
The implications of this go beyond the immediate horror of cholera’s death toll. It’s a microcosm of how health inequities are perpetuated by economic and political systems that favour the wealthy. It raises uncomfortable questions about accountability, about who gets to decide which lives are worth saving. How do we dismantle these entrenched systems of power and ensure that global health is not just a privilege for some but a right for all?
Sources
Salt Angel Blue Verdict: Manipulative The persistence of cholera is a grim testament to how global health is often manipulated by economic interests and political inertia.
