Health Trends, Issues, and Concerns (Global Level): Millennium Development Goals PDF

# Health Trends, Issues and Concerns (Global Level): Millennium Development Goals ## World Health Organization (WHO) The primary international body responsible for developing leadership in health, setting norms and standards, and providing health support among nations around the world. ## Global...

# Health Trends, Issues and Concerns (Global Level): Millennium Development Goals ## World Health Organization (WHO) The primary international body responsible for developing leadership in health, setting norms and standards, and providing health support among nations around the world. ## Global Health The term “global health” rises in popularity along with the rise of globalization. It improved public awareness of weaknesses and shared responsibilities among people for the different discriminations in the world. It also pertains to various health issues, concerns, and trends which go beyond national boundaries and call for global initiatives for the protection and promotion of peoples’ health across the world. ## Millennium Development Goals (MDG) These are goals set by the United Nations for its member-nations to be fulfilled on an agreed span of time (2015) to be evaluated and counter-checked under world standards. UN created MDG in 2000 in effort to improve life in developing regions by 2015. ### Millennium Development Goals (MDG) 1. **Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger** - Share of poor people reduced by 50 per cent from 1990-2015 - Key suggestions to eradicate poverty and hunger: - Education - Promoting gender equality - Producing more jobs - Investing more in agriculture - Strengthened nutrition programs for children and infants 2. **Achieve Universal Primary Education** - 90 per cent of children in primary school - Persons, particularly women who are educated, are more likely to seek medical care especially during pregnancy, ensuring proper nutrition for their family, adopting healthy sanitary practices, and ensuring immunization of children. - As an effect, infants and children have better survival rates, are healthier and better nourished. - If these are attained, children who receive primary education are more likely to: - Marry and have their own families at a later stage in life - Practice family planning and have fewer children - Know rights, responsibilities and civic obligations - Seek employment and sustain personal and family needs 3. **Promote Gender Equality & Empower Women** - Equal number of girls and boys started school - Gender equality means equal representation of men and women. It implies that all gender should have equal value and treatment. Equal gender treatment empowers women and other groups creating opportunities in education, work, finances, and other aspects which improves the economy and lessens effects of financial crises. - Gender equality can be achieved through: - Early childhood development intervention - Promotion of women’s political rights and involvement - Improved reproductive health programs and policies - Education and integrating gender equality in school curriculum 4. **Reduce Child Mortality** - 17,000 fewer children died each day than in 1990 - Programs and policies which help reduce child mortality like improving nutritional intake, healthcare facilities and infrastructure, and other fields which improve children’s lives. - Strengthening local and national health programs and policies is one way to reduce child mortality. - This includes: - Immunization programs - Assuring the survival and better health of mothers - Improving reproductive health programs and policies - Better nutrition program for infants, children 5. **Improve Maternal Health** - Maternal mortality fell by 45 per cent since 1990 - Is not only about mother’s health but also involves the health and wellness of the family. Maternal health also helps eradicate other problems like poverty, gender inequality, decreased workforce, lower birth deaths, and disability of women. 6. **Combat HIV/AIDS Malaria and Other Diseases** - Fewer people infected by HIV/AIDS and Malaria each year - Emerging and re-emerging diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, influenza, and other diseases affect productivity and growth of nations. - Some of the effects of disease outbreak are loss of jobs, shortage in professional workers, and creating social crises, children are the most vulnerable and are exposed to exploitation and abuse undermining their normal growth and development. - Some ways to combat diseases include effective prevention, treatment and care: - Improved housing conditions - Increased access to anti-malarial medicines - Promoting safer sex behavior and preventive education for all - Promoting Tuberculosis (TB) screening of HIV/AIDS persons and - TB - Directly Observed Treatment Short (TB-DOTS) Course therapy - Promoting the use of insecticide-treated nets to fight mosquito-borne diseases 7. **Ensure Environmental Sustainability** - 2.3 billion people gained access to clean drinking water - Investing and supporting sustainable energy like solar, wind and water energy help support jobs, create business opportunities, and save remaining non-renewable energy sources. - Environmental sustainability assures peoples to live healthier and enjoy a clean and green environment. - Some of the benefits of a sustainable environment are: - Cleaner air and environment - Clean, environment-friendly, and renewable energy - New and aspiring jobs and business in energy - Increased access to sanitation 8. **A Global Partnership for Development** - Debt service declined; foreign aid increased - The United Nations, World Health Organization, World Bank, and governments work together to make sure there is fair trade and that heavily indebted countries obtain relief and funds to combat poverty, malnutrition, and funds for education and social projects.