Thursday, March 15, 2007

The unseen aftermath

sorrow, solitudeThink that the ravages of Katrina are behind us? In fact, New Orleans is still being decimated by an inadequate healthcare system, especially for the poor -- few resources, lost clinics, and a huge reduction in regional health care providers (probably many among those who relocated) are leading to radical undertreatment of all sorts of serious ailments.
As a result, people with severe mental illness often go without medication. Heart patients cannot get prescribed follow-up care, and some cancer patients must travel hours for chemotherapy. People line up before dawn in hopes of getting care at clinics staffed by volunteers.
More bifurcation of living conditions between Haves and Have-Nots, more dropped responsibility. Katrina is a weeping sore on our national conscience.

(via Follow Me Here)

No comments: