 | |
List Price: $39.95 | | Label: Wgbh Boston
Salesrank: 19638
Released: February 28, 2006 |
| Our Price: $14.95 |
| Used Price: $26.36 |
|
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD |
|
Editorial Review:
At the dawn of the 21st century, the health of the world is at a critical crossroads. Malaria, tuberculosis, and other diseases virtually eliminated from developed countries routinely claim millions of lives in developing nations. More than 40 new or emergent diseases like Ebola fever, SARS, West Nile virus, and avian flu have appeared within the last 30 years. Strains of "superbugs" resistant to our best drugs mystify modern medicine, while HIV/AIDS still lacks a vaccine and continues to ravage the world.
Yet the problems of global health are not without solutions. During the late 19th and 20th centuries, a "golden era" in medicine spurred the greatest health revolution in human history. Powerful vaccines and antibiotics, clean water and sanitation, proper nutrition and a strong public health infrastructure protected whole populations from infectious disease and increased average life expectancy, especially in developed countries. But the benefits of this revolution have not reached everyone. Infectious diseases that are curable still persist, and deadly new killers are on the rise. In a globalized world, communicable diseases can travel anywhere in a matter of hours.
Why has it taken so long to avert a health crisis that has been preventable for decades? What will it take to get the benefits of medical science and the strategies of disease prevention to all the world’s people? Filmed in over twenty countries and narrated by actor Brad Pitt, Rx for Survival: A Global Health Challenge looks closely at the most critical health threats facing the world today. This six- part documentary series presents the compelling stories and real-life drama of those who are proving that solutions are indeed possible – and that lives can be saved right now, the world over.
Includes: Disease Warriors, Rise of the Superbugs, Delivering the Goods, Deadly Messengers, Back to the Basics, and How Safe Are We?.
RX for Survival - A Global Health Challenge Reviews:
Excellent- well put together, good information 
2009-03-28 - This documentary is great--I was actually assigned to watch it when it was on TV a few years ago for an environmental science class...it was easy to pay attention to, and was really well-put together. It is informative, and even has a few "flashbacks" where it re-enacts different things like Edward Jenner's discovery of an important vaccine, or it has some computer-generated graphics to demonstrate the differences between bacteria and viruses.
I wanted to purchase it back then, but it was really expensive since it just came out...I now finally bought it, because I am an esthetics instructor and plan to show several of the segments to my students.
There are several parts that would benefit our Nutrition chapter--the part about the clean drinking water, and another part about vitamin A deficiency and night blindness--and yet another part about the "epidemic" of obesity.
It will also obviously benefit our sanitation & diseases chapters since it does a good job of explaining viruses and bacteria, acquired immunity vs. natural immunity and gives several examples of ailments including Hepatitis and AIDS.
RX for Survival - A Global Health Challenge
2007-12-26 - This is an incredible, eye-opening view of worldwide medical issues.
I saw only certain chapters during an RN lecture and immediately purchased it so I could see the entire collection.
Good portrayal of current health issues 
2007-06-27 - Informative although I was a bit skeptical that it was more one sided than it should have been.
It gave a good history of vaccines and antibiotics and was useful in the classroom.
An interesting, intelligent exporation of public health issues
2006-03-22 - Lots of moving stories and thought provoking information. A well-written and worthwhile documentary set.
This DVD set is a great introduction to the challenges, opportunities and issues of the public health arena. Our highly individualistic culture sometimes blinds us to the concerns facing governments and non-governmental aid agencies. The questions they face are not simply, "how can I personally maintain my own health?" But rather, what can be done to promote the safety, healthy and prosperity of the whole community, of the whole country or the whole region.
In times of war, revolution or other conflict, people have a visible, tangible cause for which to unite. "United we stand, divided we fall" and other such statements are rallying cries in such times. But we may miss the fact that the increased rates of intercourse, commerce and travel in our global economy make disease outbreaks and public health challenges issues for everyone. This series makes clear that pathogenic microbes may pose as serious a threat as war and may face all of us at any time. To this end, united effort and vigilence are the responsibility of all, but also ultimately the defence of all.
Do yourself, and your neighbor, a favor by getting educated with this series.
Incredible
2006-01-10 - This series was engaging, entertaining, informative and thought provoking. I can't wait to see it again.
