The silent border crisis

Can Africa help solve the health crisis at the US border?

credit: IOM

Africa is currently grappling with a severe cholera outbreak that spans the continent. This isn't just any health crisis; it's a display of how nature's wrath, when mixed with human fragility, concocts a toxic brew of suffering. These are not isolated incidents but symptoms of a larger issue, including inadequate sanitation, contaminated water sources, and overcrowded living conditions.

Outbreaks of cholera have swept across more than a dozen countries in the region over the past year, causing hundreds of deaths. In Zimbabwe, grappling with economic sanctions and crumbling infrastructure, cholera has found fertile ground to thrive, while Zambia illustrates what happens when inadequate water and sanitation systems meet the unyielding force of climate change. South Africa and Sudan each have their own unique blend of challenges from droughts to displacement. Conflicts and economic instability further complicate public health responses, underscoring not just a health crisis but a manifestation of deeper socioeconomic and environmental challenges.

The Addis Ababa-based Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is the continent's shield and spear. Just as it rallied the troops against COVID-19, it is orchestrating a defense against cholera and other communicable diseases that are as multifaceted as the problem itself. Through vaccination campaigns that sprint across borders, treatment centers across the continent, and an army of community health workers, their community-focused strategy, emphasizing early detection, vaccination, and education, showcases a model of resilience and innovation in the face of health crises.

And why, you may ask, should this matter to the Starbucks-sipping, iPhone-toting denizen of the U.S.? Because, dear reader, the world is but a global village, and the cholera outbreak is a stark reminder of our shared vulnerabilities.

The U.S. faces its parallel universe in the form of the migrant crisis at the southern border. Migrants, fleeing similar conditions of conflict, climate change impacts, and economic instability, arrive with a heightened risk of communicable diseases.

The scenes unfolding in New York, Chicago, Texas, and Denver, where diseases thought relegated to history books are making a comeback, are a sobering echo of the public health challenges we are facing here at home.

These cities have observed a notable increase n diseases such as tuberculosis, chickenpox, and measles, illnesses that mirror the public health challenges seen in Africa.

In New York, where dreams are made and sometimes dashed, migrants find themselves at the mercy of a public health system scrambling to address the influx Chicago finds itself hit by gusts of chickenpox cases sweeping through its shelters. Texas is confronting a siege of tuberculosis, while Denver reaches new heights in emergency visits, turning away its residents in the face of overwhelming demand from migrants – many of them suffering from communicable diseases. Its important to note that these migrants didn’t necessarily bring these diseases, but they remain vulnerable to catching them. Poor and cramped living conditions once they arrive and the lack of immediate access to health care offer fertile ground for disease to spread. It’s a stark reminder that health crises know no borders, and solutions require collaboration, investment, and a commitment to public health that transcends national boundaries.

The migrants' journey to the U.S. reflects a global narrative of displacement and public health risk. As the Africa CDC has shown, dealing with health crises effectively requires addressing the root causes. In the U.S. context, this means not only enhancing border health infrastructure but also investing in long-term solutions to improve conditions in the migrants' home countries. Such an approach would not only alleviate the immediate health concerns but also contribute to a more stable and healthy global community.

This would involve bolstering health systems at the border to test and vaccinate, as well as aiding Latin American countries in managing their health challenges. A comprehensive health strategy at the border, one that includes better screening, vaccination, and public health education, could mitigate the risk of disease spread while upholding the dignity and rights of migrants.

The U.S. may have the most sophisticated health system in the world, but it could still learn a thing or two. Africa CDC’s community-centered approach could not only address the immediate health concerns but be a model for dealing with future public health challenges related to migration, displacement, and climate change. As the Africa CDC celebrates its 7th anniversary, there's a unique opportunity to embrace its strategies and expertise. Director General Jean Kaseya tells me his organization is ready to be a potential partner in crafting global solutions to public health crises.

The U.S. faces a pivotal moment at its southern border. The lessons from Africa are clear: addressing health emergencies effectively demands a holistic approach that considers the connection between human health, socioeconomic conditions, and environmental factors. The U.S. would do well to adopt such a perspective, ensuring that its response to the migrant crisis is not only effective but also grounded in compassion and public health principles.