Since the beginning of the Aids epidemic, 75
million people have been infected with the HIV virus and
about 32 million people have died from AIDS-related causes. Malaria is
back on the rise, especially among children under 5 years old, who account for
two-thirds of all malaria deaths. More than 10 million people contract TB every
year, but nearly 40% of those are left undiagnosed.
If you don’t live in a community where these diseases are
prevalent, they might seem like far away issues — but global health affects
everyone. That’s why everyone, everywhere, should play a part to end these
diseases.
As the name implies, global health is about the
health of people worldwide. There are many ways to improve global health,
including reducing inequities, combatting preventable diseases, and making
healthcare accessible and affordable.
One of the biggest keys to improving global health is access
to affordable healthcare. Disease prevention and treatment is still not available
to many people around the world. High costs, stigma, lack of health centers,
and other factors continue to prevent people from getting the care they need.
Why global health
matters
To put this issue into perspective,
consider a garden:
Some plants in a garden have the sun, water, and soil they
need to stay healthy. Other plants, however, do not have the same resources.
Not only are those plants at greater risk, but the garden as a whole is more
vulnerable as a result.
As a global community, we function the same way. If our
neighbors do not have what they need to prevent and treat disease, it puts
everyone at greater risk. The opposite is also true: when everyone can access
health care, we are all better able to combat disease.
Vaccination is a prime example of this. Between 2010
and 2019, vaccines prevented at least 12 million deaths worldwide. The
more people who receive vaccination, the less likely a disease will
spread, thanks to community immunity. When you get vaccinated, you’re not
only protecting yourself from infection. You’re also strengthening society’s
defense against the disease and keeping those around you safe.
The big picture of
global health
It’s important to ensure that everyone has the opportunity
to live a happy, healthy life. Aside from it being the right thing to do,
creating good global health benefits society globally.
Just as in a garden, when some plants receive less care, and
therefore bloom less, the garden as a whole does not grow as much as it would
if all the plants had the right amount of care. Proper resources for each
plants means larger growth for the garden as a whole.
When people can live healthy lives, they are better able to
take part in society. Good health allows children to go to school and receive
the education they need. As adults, it means being able to build careers and
invest in their families and communities.
Not protecting health can, and has, put entire countries at
risk. In 2014 alone, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone lost US$2.2 billion
in gross domestic product, threatening economic stability. This happened
because those infected with Ebola could not continue to work, leading to less
money in the economy.
On the flip side, improving global health can also lead to
incredible economic growth. Every US$1 invested in health spending for the
world’s poorest leads to a return of US$13. Investing in health, besides being
morally necessary, will lead to big returns.
The Global Fund
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and malaria is one of the
best tools we have in improving global health. The fund has helped save over 40
million lives and counting, making a huge impact on improving health worldwide.
The Global Fund Replenishment is a key moment for investment
in global health, many countries have already made their pledges. This
funding received will not only improve the health of those living in poverty.
Investing in global health protects everyone, including you, and creates a more
sustainable future.
Finally, funding agencies and governments should support
research on typically under-researched areas of people’s health including
mental health, injuries, and non-communicable diseases and encourage future
entrepreneurs to seek to invent new solutions with the potential to create a
lasting impact on the health of hard to reach communities #SDG3 #HealthforAll
#UniversalHealthCare #StrengtheningHealth #HealthyLives #SDGS #Wellbeing
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