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Eradication
Book

Eradication

Ridding the World of Diseases Forever?

Nancy Leys Stepan
Reaktion, 2019

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Editorial Rating

9

Qualities

  • Analytical
  • Applicable
  • Concrete Examples

Recommendation

Professor emeritus of medical history Nancy Leys Stepan takes readers through the history of campaigns to eradicate diseases, and examines the value of these campaigns to public health. Her pragmatic approach details results that people achieved in relation to the time and resources they spent. Her information proves most useful for public health practitioners familiar with the science behind each particular case. Stepan emphasizes the complexity of disease transmission – and thus of eradication – as an approach to improving public health.

Take-Aways

  • Eradication has proven unsuccessful at improving overall health, despite its popularity among public health practitioners.
  • Eradication campaigns involve a top-down approach. Their specific, narrow focus may not work in all circumstances.
  • Major factors in eradication campaign failures include incomplete understanding of the diseases in question and a lack of basic health services in the countries involved.

About the Author

Nancy Leys Stepan is a professor emeritus of medical history at Columbia University.

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