First Word
Countering tragedy with truth
Crashing walls of water shattered the lives of tens of thousands, causing untold horror as men, women and children across a huge swath of South Asia suffered the impact and aftermath of a massive earthquake and tsunami. It was a brutal end to 2004. But we saw the human spirit at its best as the world rallied to aid those left behind. This issue of Perspectives in Health is dedicated to the people of the tsunami: those who died, those who lost their loved ones, and the thousands who pitched in to help survivors rebuild their lives.
Relief experts and public health specialists responded as they do to every disaster—with a determined will to do whatever necessary to treat the living, rebuild health structures, and gather lessons so that fewer would endure such agony next time. And in the case of natural disasters, there always is a next time. We in the Americas know that well, as witnesses to earthquakes in Central America, volcanic eruptions spanning the Pacific Coast, and hurricanes that ravage islands and coastal areas from the Caribbean up the eastern seaboard of the United States.
Our lead story, "Disaster Myths That Just Won't Die," was in the works before the South Asian disaster struck. Its purpose is to debunk the repeated inaccuracies that pop up after every disaster, not just on scientific grounds but also because these myths can lead to ill-informed actions that add to survivors' suffering.
In region after region, time after time, media stories on disasters follow the same pattern. First, there is the story about the initial impact. Then come stories about death counts at the scene. And inevitably what follows are articles by seemingly well-intentioned journalists warning about the dangers of dead bodies and the diseases they purportedly carry. These stories usually quote officials explaining the urgency of disposing of the corpses quickly. And after each disaster, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reminds the public that dead bodies do not cause diseases and urges those at disaster sites to put aside the myths and deal with the realities: real live people searching desperately through debris to find loved ones alive or to give them a rightful burial. Too often, their hopes are lost in the anonymity of a mass grave.
The coverage of the South Asian tsunami was no different. This time, PAHO issued a press release noting that the fears of dead bodies were scientifically unfounded and that the threat of disease was much greater from contaminated water and poor living conditions as a result of the disaster. This time, more than 500 media outlets around the world published the story. The result was a perceptible change in the media coverage, with a sharp drop in articles about bodies being a potential source of epidemics. The many challenges that relief workers and authorities faced in dealing with bodies remained, but the unfounded fears seemed largely to dissipate, removing at least one source of anguish for the stricken population.
Our cover story tackles other disaster myths as well, such as the idea that any kind of aid, as long as it is prompt, is useful. As our article notes, PAHO has been challenging such myths for nearly two decades. Just as we wish the world would never see another disaster, we hope these myths will eventually disappear. Our goal is to help ensure that well-intentioned efforts have well-ending results.
As always, Perspectives in Health welcomes readers' ideas, suggestions and comments. Please write to us and let us know what you think. One of our goals is to have this magazine serve as a forum for debate and dialogue. In this new year, which started so tragically, we wish you all good health.
Bryna Brennan
Area Manager, PAHO Public Information