Essay On Mountains By Tracy Kidder

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The novel Mountains Beyond Mountains, by Tracy Kidder is a biography written about Paul Farmer- an influential specialist in infectious diseases and activist in medical service for the poor, specifically in Haiti. This novel provides a unique insight on medical anthropology and the dedication of one doctor, determined to cure others. It opens with the author’s first encounter in Mirebalais, Haiti with Tracy Kidder and an American General, Jon Carroll, in an American military base in Haiti. The American Doctor, Paul Farmer approaches the base, introduces himself, and expresses his beliefs that the American military support in Haiti is doing nothing to aid the suffering poor. This catches the attention of Tracy Kidder, and after conversing …show more content…

In Boston, Farmer works with tuberculosis patients, and studies the causation due to being HIV positive. Also, because Farmer is fluent in Creole, the native language of Haiti, he is able to connect with his patients and Haitian co-workers. Farmer had a difficult childhood, but always showed an interest in biology and local Haitian migrant workers. He received an undergraduate degree from Duke, and traveled abroad to Europe to further is public health and medical …show more content…

The control of the military Junta causes an increase in Tuberculosis.Through the use of an “epidemiological” map, Farmer studies how Tuberculosis is more prevalent in poverty stricken places. The “First line” Tuberculosis drugs, when administered early enough, can cure the disease. However, “Multi Drug Resistance” occurs when an antibiotic is not taken regularly, mutations in the disease will prevail and become resistant to the antibiotic. Kim and Farmer also initiate a Tuberculosis hospital in Carabayllo, Peru, due to a death of a close friend, Father Jack. They face MDR there as well. Without proper and sufficient treatment, strains of new resistant TB are formed; it is difficult to treat and requires many expensive