Paradoxes of Care: Children and Global Medical Aid in Egypt

Global humanitarian health initiatives spend billions of dollars to care for suffering bodies, but they can overlook the local economic and political systems that cause bodily suffering. Paradoxes of Care by Rania Kassab Sweis examines how some of the world's largest aid organizations care for vulnerable children in Egypt, revealing how global medical aid fails to save them and often maintains or produces new social disparities in children's lives. Sweis challenges readers to engage with the question of what medical caregivers and donors gain from such global humanitarian transactions.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 208 pages
\n Publication date: 29 June 2021
\n Publisher: Stanford University Press
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Each year, an astounding amount of funds is allocated to global humanitarian health initiatives, with the primary objective of providing care to those in need, particularly children living in poverty. However, the implementation of global medical aid often fails to consider the local economic and political systems that contribute to bodily suffering, inadvertently prolonging the very conditions that harm children and undermine the efforts of local aid givers. In her book, Paradoxes of Care, Rania Kassab Sweis delves into the complexities of medical humanitarian encounters in Egypt, shedding light on how child aid recipients and local aid experts navigate the shortcomings of global aid and its paradoxical outcomes.

Through an in-depth ethnographic study, Sweis examines the care provided by some of the world's largest aid organizations for vulnerable children in Egypt. Her research focuses on medical efforts specifically targeted at street children and out-of-school village girls. What emerges from her study is a poignant portrayal of how global medical aid falls short of its stated goals, often perpetuating or even creating new social disparities in children's lives. Sweis takes a unique approach by foregrounding the responses of vulnerable children to medical aid, challenging the notion of unquestioned benevolence associated with global health. She demonstrates how children must navigate their own bodies and lives in the absence of adult care, highlighting the critical need for empowerment and self-determination.

Paradoxes of Care is a thought-provoking book that prompts readers to engage with the broader implications of global humanitarian transactions. Sweis raises important questions about the gains and benefits that medical caregivers and donors derive from these endeavors. She challenges us to consider the ethical implications of our actions and to explore alternative approaches that prioritize the well-being and dignity of all children, regardless of their background or circumstances.

In conclusion, Paradoxes of Care is a groundbreaking work that sheds light on the complexities of medical humanitarian encounters in Egypt. Through her ethnographic study, Rania Kassab Sweis provides a powerful critique of global aid and its unintended consequences. By foregrounding the voices of vulnerable children and challenging the assumptions underlying medical care, she offers a roadmap for a more equitable and sustainable approach to humanitarian assistance. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in global health, social justice, and the well-being of children worldwide.

\n Weight: 326g\n
Dimension: 151 x 227 x 18 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781503628632\n \n