Global Health Threat
8.07.2018
The most efficient and effective means to preserve global health is to prevent diseases or stop them before they spread across the world. World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, World Food Program and CDC’s activities protect populations from major global health diseases and pandemics. These international organizations, in collaboration with other organizations and individuals, prevent, detect, contain and control outbreaks at their source, saving lives and reducing healthcare costs. They also help different countries to build capacity to handle and respond accordingly to their respective health challenges. The major aim of global health security is to stop diseases where they start, as soon as possible.
Global health refers to the understanding of health systems and population health in a collaborative, international and global context. It is a multidisciplinary area of study, research and practice that focuses on prioritizing, improving and attaining health and equity for all people worldwide. This is done by highlighting and tackling health problems that transcend national borders or have a social, political and economic impact. Simply, global health is all about improving physical, social and mental health and wellbeing by influencing health determinants, reducing disparities and protecting against diseases, it can be measured by the prevalence of pandemics, emergency preparedness and life expectancy.
The major threat to global health is that diseases know no borders. In the interconnectedness of today’s world, a disease threat anywhere is a threat everywhere. This is because diseases- specifically communicable diseases, exploit any gap to spread and multiply especially given the ease, rate and speed of international travel. Other threats and challenges facing global health include:
- New and recurring pandemics: These are global disease outbreaks such as HIV, influenza, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Ebola, Zika and other viral infections.
- Human and natural disasters: Climate change, air pollution, water pollution, poor sanitation and hygiene, flooding, droughts and other environmental conditions expedite the spread of diseases.
- Health inequity due to politics, social and economic disparities: Lack of access to basic health information and health care may result in unhealthy choices, STDs, high child mortality rates, and poor nutrition. These issues can be eliminated by healthy public policies, poverty alleviation and health education.
- Chronic diseases: Heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and other chronic disease remain a burden for global health as they account for 70 percent of all deaths worldwide.
- Animal health and products: Animal health is naturally intertwined with humans- having connections to humans as pets or food sources. Hence it is easy to contact infections as many diseases originate from animals, which are often asymptomatic hosts.