Membreno 1

Sofia Membreno

Apollo Honors English 2

Ms.Goodrich

February 24, 2021

Good Healthcare Is Impossible Without Access to Medication

Everyone has felt a little under the weather at some point in their lives, and maybe even

needed medicine to relieve pain. While this may be a luxury for most, in the small country of El

Salvador they don't have the same luck. One of El Salvador’s main health issues is a shortage

of medicine. In 2019, the president by the name of Ana Orellana Benedek came into office as

the new Minister of Health. That same year, she decided to prioritize this issue along with others

(“El Salvador-Medical Equipment”). Without access to medication, it is impossible to achieve

good health, and by “impossible”, this refers to not being able to occur, exist, or be done.

Medication as a resource is important because when it is taken away it can cause a cascade of

misery and suffering, when used correctly it can prevent death, and it plays a key role in

treatment.

Whether it's a headache, a pain in your arm, or a cold, medicine can allow a person to

continue with their day with ease. Whether it is a long-term medication for chronic illness,

without medicine an individual will continue to be miserable and suffer. Increasing steadily, at a

national level are non-communicable diseases and injuries, not to mention access to health

services is limited. Only about half of the population suffering from an illness or accident receive

medical assistance (“Annex 11 El Salvador”). Meaning, that the second half of the population

will continue to suffer until equipped with the correct medication and help. Also because of the

lack of modern medication or medication in general, families are suffering. Since 1958, the birth

rates have only been decreasing (“El Salvador Birth Rate 1950-2021”). My grandmother, by the

name of Maria Membreno, due to the lack of medication during her pregnancies led to her
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losing six of her nine children. Some of her children lost were in the womb, and others only lived

for a couple of days. This caused her to be in misery and suffering for a long time. Both her

emotional and physical well-being suffered, due to not having medication to keep her

pregnancies steady. It wasn't until she was able to get the correct medication and health

services, that she was able to birth 3 beautiful children, Mario Membreno, Maria Conchi

Membreno, and Caesar Membreno (Interview). Today, her children are full-grown adults, have

families of their own, and are very healthy due to the access to medication and healthcare in

America where they live now. What would have happened if she didn't have medication for

those three pregnancies? She wouldn’t have become the wonderful mother she is today, and

her children would have never got the chance to live their lives and experience the American

dream.

Even though some illnesses and diseases can’t be cured, some can be treated with the

help of medication. When it comes to good health, it is important to look at both physical and

mental health, because one is just as important as the other. Without medication, both aspects

of health could be at risk. When it comes to the mental aspect of health, medication and

treatment reduce symptoms and prevent relapses of a psychiatric disorder. Not to mention,

medications can also help patients minimize cravings and maintain abstinence from addictive

substances (Medications Play a Key Role in Treatment: Behavioral Health Evolution). Without

medication or treatment, many would fall back into negative habits, that can then reflect poorly

on both mental and physical health. Medication also works in different ways to treat diseases or

illnesses. When it comes to cancer, medication helps by killing cells as they divide or preventing

them from multiplying (Understanding Medicines and What They Do (for Teens) - Nemours

KidsHealth). If it weren't for medication, the cells would continue to multiply leading to a worse

outcome, such as death.

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Another reason why medication is important to somebody’s health is that medication

prevents death. This year alone, in the capital of El Salvador an increasing number of people

are dying at home. Not to mention, located in San Salvador ( capital of El Salvador) are the best

medical facilities and resources -such as medication- in the country. “In 2019, this happened to

[our teams] 11 times from January to June. In the same period this year, it has happened 37

times—18 times in June alone” states MSF’s medical activity manager in El Salvador. Due to

the lack of medication or medical attention, most patients were already in critical condition

before the ambulance was called (El Salvador: Deaths Increase as Health System Collapses).

Medication also helps doctors to diagnose illnesses. If an illness can be diagnosed early

enough, then the right steps can be taken to treat it. Not to mention, thanks to the advances in

medicine, doctors have been able to cure many diseases and save many lives. In El Salvador,

the leading cause of death is Coronary heart disease, this is one of many diseases that can not

be cured. However, with the help of medication, the disease can be managed. If the correct

medication was accessible, more and more lives would be saved.

Medication has always been accessible to me, leading me to the argument that having

access to medication is important when it comes to health. Medication affects overall health

because without the resource it can cause a toll on someone's emotional wellbeing, it prevents

death and helps manage chronic diseases. El Salvador is a country that lives in poverty without

the best access to medication putting it in a position where health care isn't as effective to the

wellbeing of its citizens. If medication continues as a top priority, it would only benefit those

involved. The healthcare system as a whole would benefit from more and more access to

medication.
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Works Cited

“El Salvador Birth Rate 1950-2021.” ​MacroTrends,​

www.macrotrends.net/countries/SLV/el-salvador/birth-rate#:~:text=The%20birth%20rate

%20for%20El,a%200.78%25%20decline%20from%202017​.“El Salvador-Medical

EquipmentEl Salvador-Medical Equipment.” ​El Salvador-Medical Equipment |

SelectUSA.gov,​ ​www.selectusa.gov/article?id=Medical-Equipment-El-Salvador​.

“El Salvador: Deaths Increase as Health System Collapses.” ​Doctors Without Borders - USA​,

www.doctorswithoutborders.org/what-we-do/news-stories/news/el-salvador-deaths-incre

ase-health-system-collapses​.​https://www.who.int/workforcealliance/knowledge/resources

/MLHWCountryCaseStudies_annex11_ElSalvador.pdf

Tsharp. “Medications Play a Key Role in Treatment: Behavioral Health Evolution.” ​Mental

Health Disorders​,

www.bhevolution.org/public/medications.page#:~:text=Prescribed%20medications%20pl

ay%20a%20key,maintain%20abstinence%20from%20addictive%20substances​.

“Understanding Medicines and What They Do (for Teens) - Nemours KidsHealth.” Edited by

Elora Hilmas, ​KidsHealth​, The Nemours Foundation, Oct. 2018,

kidshealth.org/en/teens/meds.html#:~:text=Medicines%20are%20chemicals%20or%20c

ompounds,many%20diseases%20and%20save%20lives.
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