Disaster preparedness

The trend toward privatization of health care throughout developing and transitional states is plunging the world’s poorest into ill-health. Last year, more than 13 million people died of infectious diseases alone, far more than the number killed in the natural or man-made catastrophes that make headlines. This trend has disturbing implications for humanitarian organizations, governments, the private sector, and those countries on the front lines of these emerging health care crises. Thus the importance of trained volunteers and community health workers in global response to public health crises must be held in hard regard.