How might GIS and Geographers help healthcare workers and international aid workers in those countries that require it? In developing nations, 3^rd world nations and nations suffering from distinct natural disasters, geographic information can be applied to learn, trend, treat and eradicate health issues. Much of the emphasis in caring for the people that need the help is based in vaccinations and treatment of symptoms once inflicted. By using geographical information, the emphasis of treatment would not change, but could be focused on at risk populations, opposed to the current system of first come, first serve.

                A primary example of how geographers can help provide solutions to healthcare crises globally is the first example of it. Rarely is the primary and most explanatory and obvious example of the success of an idea the first documented use of it. In geography, Dr. John Snow’s use of mapping Cholera in 19^th century London provided the framework for future uses of geographical health mapping.  In the Journal Social Science and Medicine, an article by Tom Koch and Kenneth Denike recreated the process of Dr. Snow using GIS Software and analysis to show how accurate his work was, even given the lack of technological resources available to him. His solution, to simply remove a handle to a water pump, saved the city from consistently rising Cholera deaths, and proved the disease was water borne and not carried in the air, as was the common thought of the time. Geography solved a medical crisis.

                Today, articles in the news shed light on the fact that there are still so many health epidemics in the world, especially in the poorest regions, and most particularly earthquake hit Haiti. Cholera in the nation is immeasurably high. Other diseases, completely extinct in developed parts of the world are growing in occurrence and frequency. When the news develops this idea to the public, the ideas of Dr. Snow have to be re-established. Focusing ideas on mapping the trends that have been seen in disease outbreak can be crucial to finding the source and eradicating it before it kills more people.  

                News sources, which are open sources, are reliable in the sense that they can develop and provide attention to a problem, issue or concern. Deep sources, such as journals, can give the empirical knowledge to help solve those issues. Being sure which is which and how to use them efficiently is key in establishing one’s research and practicum.

Bibliography

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<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/8309590/Steve-Jones-Plagued-by-old-enemies.html>.

Koch, Tom, and Kenneth Denike. "Crediting his critics’ concerns: Remaking John Snow’s map of Broad

Street cholera, 1854." Social Science and Medicine 69 (2009): 1246-51. Elsevier. Web. 27 Feb.

2011.