Refugee Health
Introduction
There are currently 42 million displaced people in the world (8). Many of these people are living in camps set up for refugees or Internally Displaced People. Unsanitary conditions and a lack of resources in these camps cause many of the residents to suffer from health conditions that they otherwise might not have suffered from. Health statistics reported from refugee camps are much worse than those reported from their non-displaced counterparts (6). Basic needs such as food and water are often difficult to obtain. The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has stated that “in any refugee camp, a good, reliable source of clean water must be available. But sometimes, refugee camps end up on impossibly poor sites” (11). These camps are located all over the world including Thailand, Kenya, Iraq, Colombia and numerous other sites. This means that every camp has a unique health profile and has different needs, but there are a few public health aspects that affect the majority of camps. Displaced people from all over the world are more at risk of suffering from malnutrition and obtaining infectious diseases and parasites.
To start your own paper: Type your page title into the Search box. (Be sure to spell correctly.) Press "Go." The site will offer you the opportunity to "Create this page."
Next, use the "edit" tab to reveal the coded file of BIOL 191 Paper 2009. Select all and copy; paste into the edit window of your own page. (Do not try to edit the class page.)
Introduce the topic of your paper. What public health question do you raise? Whose health is affected; in what country or location? What disease organisms are involved?
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Filename: PHIL_1181_lores.jpg
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Legend/credit: Electron micrograph of the Ebola Zaire virus. This was the first photo ever taken of the virus, on 10/13/1976. By Dr. F.A. Murphy, now at U.C. Davis, then at the CDC.
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Malnutrition
Malnutrition is when a body is not absorbing enough nutrients or enough of the right kind of nutrients. This is important to a person’s health because malnutrition weakens the immune system making that person more susceptible to disease. Many diseases in turn keep the body from absorbing nutrients, making them even weaker. Malnutrition and disease form a vicious cycle that can be fatal to many displaced people living in camps (1). Malnutrition is increasingly becoming a problem in refugee and IDP camps. At three refugee camps in Darfur, acute malnutrition was reported to have a prevalence rate of 14.1%, 23.6%, and 10.7% respectively. Many displaced people depend on international food aid as their only source of food. International food aid has been declining in the past years meaning that displaced people have not been receiving enough food and malnutrition is increasing in camps (13). Some forms of malnutrition such as Marasmus or Kwashiorkor can improve if the patient improves his or her diet. But other more serious forms of malnutrition such as Cachexia do not improve with increased intake of nutrients and lead to muscle, bone, and fat loss. [Image:Sickle Cell.jpg|thumb|300px|left|(14).]] If patients are lacking certain micronutrients, known as micronutrient deficiency, it can lead to serious long-term effects such as the stunting of mental and physical development and a lowered intellectual potential (1). This occurs often in residents of refugee or IDP camps because diets are not varied enough to supply everyone with sufficient micronutrients. In Bangledesh and Nepal, many displaced people are lacking in Vitamin B. In Kenya and Algeria, many displaced people are lacking iron, leading to anemia (13). Sickle cell anemia is also very common in Liberia. Those with Sickle Cell anemia have inherited it from both parents. Sickle Cell anemia causes red blood cells to form in a crescent shape rather than a disc shape. This causes blood clots that are extremely painful and can delay physical growth of the patient (2) (14). There is no cure for sickle cell anemia, but there are ways to reduce the pain it can cause. These techniques however, are fairly high-tech and expensive and are not available to refugees or IDPs who are still trying to access the most basic health necessities such as food.
Sample Section 2
Include some current research in each section.
Sample Section 3
Include some current research in each section.
Conclusion
Overall paper length should be approximately 2,000 to 2,500 words.
Include at least two data figures.
Use professional sources, including at least two research studies.
References
Edited by student of Joan Slonczewski for BIOL 191 Microbiology, 2009, Kenyon College.
