The case in the W&G book on the Ethics and Humanitarian Aid draws on a lot of issues and nuances that are involved with providing, allocating, and rationing care to individuals in LDC’, such as the example in the book with South Sudan. There has been a lot of opposition and questioning surrounding the allocation of this care, and the criteria that one uses to make decisions on the care. The PBE mentions some categories, which include age, conditions, and money. One criteria, especially when one looks at Africa, which is where a lot of these vertical aid programs are located, should be history. The history of Africa should serve as a criteria as to the aid in which it receives, because the history of Africa has adversely affected the health and wealth of the populations that live there. Colonialism interrupted, pushed back, and severely reversed any form of progress, infrastructure, societal growth that was taking place and that could have been taking place in Africa. As a result, a lot of communities, even today, are still reaping the damages done by colonialism. In the Case discussion portion of the case study, the point of ‘geopolitical justice and injustice’ having a relevancy in the decision to allocate and ration out care is a valid point, because the history there has had a negative impact on the health.
Source:
PBE “Allocating, Setting Priorities, and Rationing” pp. 279-293
W&G Case 8.2 “Ethics and Humanitarian Aid: Vertical Aid
Programs.” pp. 267-268
Hi Ifechi,
You bring up a fascinating point. Before I begin to form my own thoughts on this, would you mind clarifying how you think the case should have been handled given Africa’s history and influences? Do you think is there more justification for Dr. Asadour providing care other than cholera treatments to the people of South Sudan because of their turbulent and influential history? I’d love to hear some further thoughts!
Thanks,
Elisabeth Crusey
Hi Elizabeth,
In my post I was more so speaking on the fact that when considering the use of vertical aid programs in general in countries in Africa, when one looks at the justification of the distribution and provision of the care, one should take into account the historical context of the country at hand. When looking at the case, I think that the doctor came there with the intention to treat cholera, which is his number one priority. I think that if he, after doing what he could do with the patients with cholera, has the necessary means to do so, should treat the patients without cholera. I’m not saying that because of Africa’s history he must treat them, but I am saying that if he is capable of treating them he should. Hope this helps!
Hi Ifechi! Thanks for this post! I agree that the societal and economic growth of many African countries has been hindered by multiple events in history, including colonialism. As Leander Heldring and James Robinson discuss in their article, “Colonialism and development in Africa”, while some may believe that colonialism benefited Africa’s economic development, it actually hindered it significantly, as you discuss.
Does colonialism demand that European countries and the United States who colonized Africa give back in an attempt to “make up” for what they have done, however irreversible? Does justice demand this? I’d say so. I’m not sure if this is what you are suggesting (I don’t want to put words in your mouth – correct me if I’m wrong!), but looking at the damages, it makes sense for wealthy countries that benefited from exploiting African nations and people to provide aid, whether that is in the form of health services, infrastructure, or education.
Your point reminds me of a recent case happening in the university in my hometown. There, the Student Government Association passed a (largely symbolic) resolution that demands free tuition for all black students as reparations for slavery. Is this along the same lines as providing aid to African countries? Eager to hear your thoughts!
References
Heldring, L. & Robinson, J. (2013). Colonialism and development in Africa. VOX CEPR’s Policy Portal. http://voxeu.org/article/colonialism-and-development-africa
Blackford, L. (2017). WKU student leaders urge free tuition for black students as slavery reparations. Lexington Herald Leader. http://www.kentucky.com/news/local/education/article145716629.html
Hi Julia,
Thanks so much! I’m basically saying what you’re saying, I think the infrastructure issues, and the consequent issues that rose out from the horrors of colonialism needs to be seen as an underlying cause to the issues that are there. I do think, to a certain extent, that the countries that profited off of colonialism have a sort of obligation to right the atrocities that they committed. Kind of like if you make a mess in a room, completely destroy, take the valuable things in the room, and destroy the rest, and leave the owner of the room with the responsibility of putting the room back in its original form or even better. It’s unrealistic to me, and I think that it should be taken into consideration when looking at vertical aid programs.
Hi Ifechi,
I think you bring up a very interesting point. I like what you said about expanding the criteria for allocation and vertical aid programs. I think when evaluating how to distribute resources to outside areas, it is important to evaluate the social climate of place they are going to help.
I think that given the social and political climate in countries throughout Africa, I think it is important that other countries recognize this when thinking about sending resources. I think that these new criteria will aid in a more fair allocution of international resources.
-Arianna E.