Examining private sector, foreign government involvement in Haiti's health system

Nov 16 2012

With recent suggestions "of privatizing the [U.S.] government's emergency response capability for natural and human-caused disasters and infectious diseases," Henry (Chip) Carey, an associate professor of political science at Georgia State University in Atlanta, writes in the World Policy Blog, "One might want to look at Haiti for a case study in the effects of bypassing the government health sector for private organizations." He continues, "In Haiti, the result of decoupling the state from health care has been across the board decreases in water and sanitation quality." Carey reviews the history of Haiti's health system and conditions surrounding the 2010 cholera outbreak. He concludes, "What is needed are comprehensive, low-tech sanitation systems and clean, common water sources throughout the country, overseen by the Haitian government. In the past three decades, the U.S. has not given Haiti's leaders the chance to show us that they can rise to the occasion. It is high time we change course and help the Haitians help themselves" (11/14).