The Mekong Delta is a vast and beautiful expanse of waterways in southern Vietnam. Having travelled over 4,000 kilometres from China, taking them through all the countries of South-East Asia, the waters of the Mekong spread out over much of the land south of Ho Chi Minh City. Arriving by night, each river crossed makes me think of the next tentacle which a dark octopus might be trying to block our route with.
By day, a vibrant, bustling hive of activity takes shape as the sun rises. Everybody here owns a boat. For some it is also their home. For all it is their way of making a living, taking them and their wares to the many floating markets of the Mekong. There are some laden with mangoes, bananas, watermelons or pumpkins; ice or rice; clay hearths or charcoal; and bread or pho, to cater for the morning munchies.
The river however is much more than an aquatic road to the nearest market. Most of the homes here have a back door which leads straight out onto the brown, murky Mekong waters. This is where clothes are washed, pots and pans are rinsed and litter is discarded. Children play in the lukewarm waters while teenage girls clean their bicycles nearby. A man lowers a bucket into the shallows to collect a little water to brush his teeth with. A young woman crouches down on a ledge, washing her long, dark hair in the river. The Mekong is everything to the people here: every activity involves its waters at some stage.
Drifting along in a small boat, I cannot help but think of all the other creatures which populate this river. Countless bacteria, viruses and parasites thrive in the warm, humid environment provided by the Mekong, repeatedly introduced there by humans and other animals. Hepatitis A, typhoid fever, cholera.... the list is long and frightening.
The waters of the Delta are a public health nightmare. The question is, how can one go about changing some of the behaviours of those whose lives depend on this river? Where should a benevolent Health Minister start? Try as I might, I cannot imagine that the situation here could change until there is a realistic alternative way of life for all the people who are born on the Mekong and only know how to survive thanks to its waters.
By day, a vibrant, bustling hive of activity takes shape as the sun rises. Everybody here owns a boat. For some it is also their home. For all it is their way of making a living, taking them and their wares to the many floating markets of the Mekong. There are some laden with mangoes, bananas, watermelons or pumpkins; ice or rice; clay hearths or charcoal; and bread or pho, to cater for the morning munchies.
The river however is much more than an aquatic road to the nearest market. Most of the homes here have a back door which leads straight out onto the brown, murky Mekong waters. This is where clothes are washed, pots and pans are rinsed and litter is discarded. Children play in the lukewarm waters while teenage girls clean their bicycles nearby. A man lowers a bucket into the shallows to collect a little water to brush his teeth with. A young woman crouches down on a ledge, washing her long, dark hair in the river. The Mekong is everything to the people here: every activity involves its waters at some stage.
Drifting along in a small boat, I cannot help but think of all the other creatures which populate this river. Countless bacteria, viruses and parasites thrive in the warm, humid environment provided by the Mekong, repeatedly introduced there by humans and other animals. Hepatitis A, typhoid fever, cholera.... the list is long and frightening.
The waters of the Delta are a public health nightmare. The question is, how can one go about changing some of the behaviours of those whose lives depend on this river? Where should a benevolent Health Minister start? Try as I might, I cannot imagine that the situation here could change until there is a realistic alternative way of life for all the people who are born on the Mekong and only know how to survive thanks to its waters.
Nice smile on such a cute face!
ReplyDeleteYou posted this some time ago and may not be checking it any longer. Still, I have to try asking for your advice and help. I would like to lead a group of Master of Public Health students to the Mekong in Fall, 2012 to do some sort of short term project. Can you suggest a university or nonprofit organization I can contact?
ReplyDeleteKaren - how can I contact you?
ReplyDelete