The Motorcycle Diaries Essay

In Ernesto Che Guevara’s memoir, “The Motorcycle Diaries” introduced the road trip of Ernesto and his friend Alberto traveling through South America. Along the way, they encounter a wide range of medical conditions and health problems that give them a firsthand look at the challenges faced by the people in the region. The book documents the story happened around them like a diary, which include the severe medical conditions and health problems in South America area around year of 1950s-1960s. Overall, the book provides a unique perspective on the medical and health issues faced by the people of South America during the mid-twentieth century and offers valuable insights into the region's history and culture. In Ernesto's view, South America

This was especially evident during his visit to the La Gioconda neighborhood, where he met an old woman suffering from both asthma and a heart condition. “The poor thing was in a pitiful state, breathing the acrid smell of concentrated sweat and dirty feet that filled her room, mixed with the dust from a couple of armchairs, the only luxury items in her house. On top of her asthma, she had a heart condition.(56)” She lived in a dirty room on her own, people are like burdens to their family and friends after they are sick at that time, because they don’t have any money or resources to spend on these poor sick relatives. There was not much that Ernesto could do for this old lady due to the lack of medical condition, “There isn’t much I can do for the sick

The Cuban Revolution happened during the 1960s could be a good example to prove his idea. It occurred as one of the most important changes to the social medicine in South America Cuban areas. According to the PubMed Central, “Cuba's improved public health system emerged as part of a social revolution in which accomplishments in health occurred as an integral part of broad structural changes in the society as a whole.The social changes underlying Cuba's achievements in primary care, public health, medical education, planning and administration, and epidemiological surveillance inspired activists and scholars in other countries.” On the other hand, during the 1950s and 1960s, South America also faced a range of medical conditions that affected the population. Malaria was a particularly significant problem in many parts of South America, especially in rural areas where a lack of healthcare and proper sanitation contributed to its spread. Other communicable diseases, such as tuberculosis and leprosy, also posed major health risks, particularly for those living in poverty. The region also faced challenges related to malnutrition and the prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Despite efforts by governments and international organizations to address these health issues, progress was slow, and many South Americans