Nothing To Envy The Effects Of Failing Health System In North Korea

In the book Nothing to Envy the effects of the failing economy, famine, and the health system on the people of North Korea is shown in the book through Doctor Kim Ji-eun's experience. Many ailments and diseases were explained in the chapter as well as the effects of the economy on the health system of North Korea. Kim Ji-eun's experience will help show the impacts of these various things on the people of North Korea. Examples of rhetoric can also be seen throughout the chapter. The impact of the economy, the famine, disease, and poor health system will be able to be explained during the examination of the personal experience of Kim Ji-eun. Kim Ji-eun was born into a family where her father was a part of the Worker's party. Since her father

One example of supply shortages is the shortages of X-ray machines. The doctors in turn use fluoroscopy machines in place of the X-ray machines in order to treat the patients. As a result to these machines the patients are exposed to high levels of radiation which in turn demonstrates how the poor economy impacts the ability of the health care system to treat its patients. Another example is that acupuncture is often used in place of anesthesia for small surgeries as a result to the lack of anesthesia supplies. Dr. Kim stated that "When it works, it works very well" and when the acupuncture fails to work "...patients would be strapped to the operating table to prevent them from flailing out" (Demick

In Chongjin, as a result to the bacteria build up in the vats people use for holding water, the poor sewage system, and the contaminated stream water, epidemics were likely to happen. A bacterial illness called typhoid became an epidemic in North Korea due to the heat wave causing an increase in growth of bacteria. Although this disease can be easily remedied through antibiotics, the lack of antibiotics after 1994 caused many to either suffer with the illness or die. In the winter that followed this outbreak, large floods occurred which caused the famine level to worsen. Children became smaller and smaller in size and were prone to an illness called wasting which resulted from severe malnutrition that caused the body to eat away its own muscles. The condition wasting also caused children to have severe cases of constipation. In addition to typhoid and wasting, another issue was developed as a result to corn becoming the staple food during the famine. Due to the lack of niacin in the diet and the large consumption of only corn, older children and adults ended up obtaining the illness called pellagra. Pellagra causes the skin to have rashes that appear shiny to be located on the body. Another issue that was caused by the famine was the death of children as a result to lowered resistance to illnesses as simple as the cold or diarrhea. Infants were also in trouble due