Human Trafficking Down Home

Where is the real news in health care these days? The Internet and evening news have been preoccupied with health care reform for months predicting doom and destruction no matter what Congress enacts. I'm weary of the rhetoric, so I went looking for some real news about health care. Knowing that genetic science always has new developments I started a search and received an education in Human trafficking.


Human trafficking an international public health problem and has become a 13 billion dollar global industry. It is the modern day equivalent of slavery and it is projected to become the number one international crime in 2010, surpassing drugs, weapons and blood diamonds. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC) estimates there are 2 million victims and 50% are children under the age of 17. The US government estimates that between 18,000 and 20,000 international victims are within its borders. Much more impressive is that 200,000 children who are US citizens are at risk also. International efforts are spear headed by the United Nations Inter-Agency Project (UNIAP). The World Health Organization and UNICEF have published guidelines on how to interview and assist victims. Here in the United States, the department of Health and Human Services (HHS) oversees a Restore and Rescue Program for victims and operates a hot line at the National Human Trafficking Resource Center.


Now I am from "The Show Me" state of Missouri and I had to investigate the prevalence of human trafficking in this country further. I found it right here in the Heart Land. Because the Mississippi River is a geographical barrier to ground transportation, there are 2 interstates that support the region. Hwy 44 is the southern route. It is very rural and well known as a super highway to move illegal substances from the southwest part of the country. Hwy 70 spans the middle of the state and connects two major metropolitan areas St. Louis and Kansas City, an even better route to traffic humans. And right there in the middle is Columbia, a small but growing town that is home to Missouri University (MU).


MU has a masters program in Public Health and they received a grant from HHS in June of this year to start a Rescue and Restore Victims of Human Trafficking Regional Program.
The stated goals are surveillance and investigation, to raise public awareness and be a resource for victims. They will be training public health professionals and students, as well as police, hospital staff, social workers and others. Interesting too, they will be looking at human trafficking from a rural perspective.


I must say that I have always assumed this was "not in my back yard" but I actually lived and worked in Columbia for 10 years and still have many friends there. This posting has definitely "raised my awareness".


I certainly hope that whatever health care reform comes out of Congress it comes soon. I think our president is a very brave and earnest individual trying to manage a monumental change for our country. But we are waisting time picking sides, qwibbling amongst our selves, chasing the boogie man and stumbling over the little things. There are more important health and humanitarian issues and we should be assuming the lead for the larger community of man.