NR553 Week 1 Discussion, Global Health Challenges

Global Health Challenges NAME Chamberlain College of Nursing NR 553: Global Health DATE Explore one global health challenge from your text or lecture this week and expand on its causes, trends, and the corrective action needed, taking into account resources in the developing world. Week 1: Global Health Challenges From this weeks’ lesson I’ve learned that HIV/AIDS has been the most prominent global health issue over the last 30 years and has captured the largest slice of development assistance for health. The total number of people living with HIV was 34.2 million in 2011, newly infected with HIV was 2.5 million, and AIDS deaths were 1.7 million (WHO/UNAIDS/UNICEF, 2011). Sub-Saharan Africa continues to bear the brunt of the global epidemic with an infection prevalence of over 30% in some countries (USAID Bureau of Global Health, 2010). AIDS remains one of the leading causes of death in the Caribbean among people aged 25 to 44 years old, resulting in the Caribbean being the second-most affected region in the world with HIV/AIDS (USAID Bureau of Global Health, 2010). USAID’s Bureau of Global Health (2010) explained: Factors that account for the prevalence of HIV include high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs); limited access to STI management; limited access to, or social non-acceptance of, condoms; war and civil disturbance; cultural/ethnic practices; women's low status; low literacy rates; increasing urbanization, migration, and mobilization; low level of political commitment; and exposure to blood from unsafe medical practices and/or traditional practices. Combatting both stigma and discrimination, arguing for the right to access treatment, and calling on governments to increase their efforts to tackle this global health issue has been at the forefront of HIV/AIDS advocacy since the 1980s. Millions of individuals living in poorer countries have lack of access to antiretroviral medicines (ARVs). Meanwhile, people in rich countries have access to ARVs, namely the triple cocktail of highly advanced antiretroviral therapy (HAART) introduced in 1996 (Bubsy & Kapstein, 2016). Over 5,700 people die from AIDS, mostly because of lack of access to HIV prevention and treatment services (USAID Bureau of Global Health, 2010). HIV not only affects the health of individuals, it impacts households, communities, and the development and economic growth of nations. Existing prevention efforts are often insufficiently comprehensive or inadequately tailored to local epidemics. This requires a greater political commitment to implementing evidence-informed programs and the development of new prevention approaches and improved tools to strengthen national responses. Rapidly identifying and treating sexually transmitted infections are important elements in controlling HIV, since sexually transmitted infections (STI) potentially increase the risk of HIV transmission. If various interventions are implemented for controlling sexually transmitted diseases the result could be a decline in STIs thus contributing to the gradual decline in HIV prevalence. Initiating comprehensive HIV prevention programs to address issues specific to STIs, provide an opportunity to offer provider-initiated testing and counseling for HIV, and can serve as entry points for HIV care and treatment interventions. HIV testing and counseling are essential in expanding access to HIV prevention and treatment and ultimately achieving universal access. References Busby, J. W., & Kapstein, E. B. (2016). Framing global health as human rights: Learning from the case of HIV/AIDS. Global Health Governance, 10(3), 24-40. USAID Bureau of Global Health. (2010, May 10). HIV/AIDS surveillance. Retrieved from WHO/UNAIDS/UNICEF. (2011, November 30). Progress report 2011: Global HIV/AIDS response. Retrieved from RESPONSE TO PEER: Economic conditions play a significant role in determining access to care and the burden of Disease. Faina, I wanted to add to your thoughts about economic conditions regarding environmental pollutants. Environmental pollution also remains a major problem and poses continuing risks to global health. Environmental pollution is defined as “the presence in the environment of an agent which is potentially damaging to either the environment or human health” (Briggs, 2003). Environmental pollution includes but is not limited to chemicals, biological materials, radiation, gas, air, land/soil, and water pollution. Water pollution, sanitation and hygiene, indoor air pollution, and to a lesser extent outdoor air pollution and exposures to chemicals in both the indoor and outdoor environment are all important risk factors. Pollution disproportionately kills the poor and the vulnerable. According to Landrigan et al. (2017), 92% of deaths from pollution- related disease occur in low and middle-income countries. Children face the highest risks because small exposures to chemicals in utero and in early childhood can result in lifelong disease and, disability, premature death, as well as reduced learning and earning potential. Pollution is closely tied to climate change. Pollution control is an explicit Sustainable Development Goals priority – Goal 3.9: “By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illness from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination” (2015). Climate change has potential to worsen levels of ambient air pollution and to aggravate the effects of pollution on health. Both pollution and climate change can be mitigated by the transition toward a more sustainable economy. Although climate change will affect everyone, population groups that are socially and economically vulnerable are at greatest risk, and their needs must be addressed in a timely manner. The health sector must be ready to acknowledge, understand, and help societies to mitigate the impacts and to adapt to a more sustainable economy while promoting better and more equitable conditions for all people. Thanks for your informative post. Reference Briggs, D. (2003, December 1). Environmental pollution and the global burden of disease. British Medical Bulletin, 68(1), 1–24. Retrieved from Landrigan, P.J., Fuller, R., Acosta, N., Adeyi, O., Arnold, R., Basu, N., Bibi-Baldé, A……Zhong, M. (2017, October 20). Pollution responsible for 16 percent of early deaths globally. ScienceDaily. Retrieved from United Nations. (2015). Sustainable development goal 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Retrieved from RESPONSE TO PEER: Linda, Problems in health undermine the quality of life and opportunities for those exposed to vulnerable circumstances. Involving a wide range of stakeholders that includes governmental entities, non-governmental organizations, academic/research institutions, and ministries to address health inequity issues nationally and globally can be effective. To tackle health inequities, a knowledge base on the factors that contribute to or reduce opportunities to achieve healthy well-being should be researched. There is evidence to support that some conditions systematically restrict population groups from gaining economic, social, political and cultural inclusion thus leading to inequities in health status and access to health services. To support decision-makers and those implementing policies and services data collection and reviewing evidence of successful interventions is critical in implementing action on social determinants. Policies and interventions which directly address the social and economic inequalities that drive health inequalities are likely to be most effective. For example, the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe) approved an evidence-based health policy framework for the European Region, Health 2020, in 2012 (WHO/Europe, 2013). Health 2020 recognizes that regional governments can achieve real improvements in health if they work across government to fulfill two linked strategic objectives: improving health for all and reducing health inequalities; improving leadership and participatory governance for health (WHO/Europe, 2013). WHO/Europe goal to tackle social determinants of health and health inequities is greatly strengthened by the involvement of stakeholders working in subnational areas (WHO/Europe, n.d.). Intersectoral partnerships, networking between cities across the European region, and joint interventions were essential in addressing all aspects of health and living conditions and to mobilize action for health and health equity in all local policies. The WHO Regional Office for Europe launched the European Healthy Cities Network (EHCN) in 1987 as a vehicle to bring a “Health for All” strategy at the local level. The European Healthy Cities Network currently encompasses almost 100 member cities and National Healthy Cities Networks have been established in more than 1500 cities in 30 European countries (WHO/Europe, n.d.). The purpose of Healthy Cities Network is about changing the ways in which local government, individuals, and communities think, understand and make decisions impacting health, in order to create a more equitable and sustainable city (WHO/Europe, n.d.). Healthy Cities is a dynamic platform for public health advocacy at the national and international levels. Reference World Health Organization/Europe. (n.d.). Promoting health and reducing health inequities by addressing the social determinants of health. Retrieved from World Health Organization/Europe. (2013). Health 2020. A European policy framework and strategy for the 21st century. Retrieved from