Global Health And The Global Issues

According to the National health survey, in 2014-15, 63.4% of Australians aged 18 years and over were overweight or obese that 27.9% of population were obese (about 5 million people), this number has constantly increasing for a decade (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2015). Generally speak, obesity is able to increase the risk of type 2

This paper will step out of the comfort of the first world American lifestyle and look beyond to the health and social issues around the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) is the leading stakeholder in advancing the awareness and support on global health issues along with the United Nations (UN) and other governmental and nongovernmental agencies. Only once the issues of these vulnerable people are identified can these organizations move forward in addressing and prioritizing the rapidly evolving global health agenda. The Millennium Development Goals will be defined briefly, however, since their goal completion date has ended, a future look at follow on program, Sustainable Development Goals seems the best place

“Without a lifespan view of women’s health… we are unlikely to be successful in advancing women’s health” (Woods 2009, pg. 400). A Global Health Imperative (2009) by author Nancy Fugate Woods explains the issues about health status and opportunities for the health of girl-children world-wide, which includes sex and gender disparities. Girl and women’s health is important, but just not as important as men’s health. Woods gives example of women’s health issues that are extremely serious. “Health issues or problems that occur predominantly in women are breast cancer and menopause” (Woods 2009, pg. 400). Women all over the world have the risk of getting breast cancer, HIV and Aids. Women that are affected by these diseases in some countries may

Globalization involves the movement of people, food, goods from one place to another. And in the process of countries integrating, people and goods move from one location to another. In as much as there is positive impact for people, goods and services to move from one country to another. There are chances that the people, goods and service in a county can be infected and taken across the border to another country. In the course of globalization people move from one country to another and they might have contacted diseases or the product that they are carrying across the border. Diseases such as AIDs, tuberculosis, malaria are the top among the list of the disease that is usually carried by people. But just as globalization increases the frequency and ease with which diseases can move around the world, it also can improve access to the medicines, medical information, and training that can help treat or cure these diseases. Drug companies and governments now have the ability to ship drugs to remote parts of the world affected by outbreaks of diseases. There are various options that can be used to lower the spread of global disease. Most countries usually have screening borders to check the people, food and

Ten percent of the disease burden globally is attributed to sedentary lifestyle and poor nutritional diet. One disease associated with above stated factors is – diabetes 2 , which would become largest killer in near future. In terms of overweight and obesity Australia ranked 30th in study published in the Lancet. In contrast to trend in growth of obesity and overweight in population of other developed countries which have reached saturation level, Australia is experiencing exponential growth rate in overweight and obesity. The increase from 56 per cent in 1995, to 63 per cent in 2011-12 in overweight and obesity has been tracked by Australian Health Survey.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the principal government agency in the United States working to improve the health of all Americans despite their economic, social and educational status. HHS has identified three national goals of global health, including strengthen health care, advance scientific knowledge and innovation, and advance the health, safety and well-being of Americans (Secretary, 2014). The first goal to strengthen healthcare refers to HHS's push in making health insurance affordable for all Americans. This will increase access to preventative care as well as ensuring assess to high quality, culturally competent care. This goal focuses on improving transitions in care across the continuum, which in

Canada is the second largest country by total area in the world, extending from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean and north into the Arctic Ocean. Canada has ten Provinces and three Territories, bordering the United States on the South and Northwest sides. Ottawa is Canada capital city located in Ontario. Canada became its own country July 1, 1867 with the creation of the Constitution Act. Currently, Canada is home to a little over 36 million people, ranking as the 38th most populated country in the world.

Life expectancy for Australian’s has reached an all-time high. A male child born today, can expect to live an extra 2.36 years and 1.44 for females (Abs.gov.au, 2012). Although the expected length of life has skyrocketed, there are numerous health statistics that put Australia to shame. It has been estimated that by 2031, 3.3 million Australians will have been diagnosed with the incurable type 2 diabetes (Diabetesaustralia.com.au, 2013). Australia’s biggest killer, Coronary heart disease (CHD) was responsible for 13.6% of all Australian deaths recorded in 2012 (Abs.gov.au, 2012). One catalyst for CHD and Diabetes is Australia’s rising epidemic of obesity. During this report, obesity will be covered, and why is it a current health issue in

Type-2 diabetes is a concerning even more, its an increasing issue in our New Zealand community. In 2006 the Ministry of Social Development surveyed a sample of male, female adults and children to see what percentage of them were classified as obese. In 2006-2007 at least 25% of the sample of adults were classified as obese whereas 6-8% of children were also classified. By 2013/2014 there was a 3.3 percentage increase in male samples and a 2.8 percent increase in the female sample of classified obesity. The sample of children all together increased by 8.0-8.8 percent. This shows us that gradually the communities classified obesity rate is increasing. Obesity is found to be a link to increasing the risk of developing type-2 diabetes. 90% of diabetic patients are classified as obese. It is evident that as the obesity rate has raised in New Zealand so has the risk of type-2 diabetes.

Thanks to the two YouTube videos provided about obesity, I now have a clearer understanding of the obesity epidemic that has taken America (or should I say THE WORLD?) by storm.. The effects of obesity is mind blowing. Through the videos, I was able to learn that diet related diseases, such as: type 2 diabetes, dementia, heart disease, hypertension, and cancer; pose a greater threat to the developing world than acute infectious disease, such as: HIV. This information is a wake-up call to everyone. We must start improving the obesity epidemic.

On March 21st, 1998, I was born as a premature baby, who looked extremely weak and was experienced shortness of breath. My parents were concerned as I was coughing my lungs out day in, and day out. However, the doctors were not too concerned as my asthma was typically seen in premature babies, and assumed it would be temporary and would leave overtime. Nonetheless, these predictions were inaccurate. As time slowly progressed my asthma began to get worse. I was having trouble breathing and, was constantly grasping for air.

Obesity is one of the most challenging and neglected health issues within society (Glenny et al. 1997). In 2008 the Australian Government spent $58 billion on direct healthcare and obesity related management, and this value continues to rise exponentially (ANPHA, 2014). This profound impact on population health has made it a rising concern at the primary health care level. According to (Monash University,2013), 80% of all Australians will suffer from obesity by 2025, leaving future generations to experience shorter life expectancies when they reach twenty years of age.

Health is a complex concept, and global health adds to this complexity. When I think of health as a concept, I view it as being absent of disease. This understanding is a very biomedical approach to health and is a very narrow viewpoint of health. According to the World Health Organization (1948), health is defined as a “state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (a cited by Jacobsen p. 2). This definition does give a better understanding of what health is from a broader perspective. At the University of Victoria’s Global Health class, I have become to understand better the WHO’s definition and that it is linked to the social determinants of health. In this paper, I will reflect and analyze the learning that occurred for myself while taking the Global Health class, and how this knowledge has helped my nursing practice evolve at the local and international level.

Global health has always been an issue. There are always disease outbreaks, natural disasters, and countries who do not have access to the resources they need. For years, people have been working to get urgent medical care to people who need it most, and also to educate them about basic health and hygiene. There have been many organizations and partnerships who have contributed to the advancement of global health, but the one that stands out the most is the World Health Organization. The World Health Organization has impacted global health by who they are and what they do, what emergencies they have dealt with, and the research they have done.

"The failure to engage in the fight to anticipate, prevent, and ameliorate global health problems would diminish America's stature in the realm of health and jeopardize our own 
health, economy, and national security, " stated by The Institute of Medicine. Global health refers to health phenomenon that transcends across national borders. For instance, global health would address predicaments such as: infectious and insect-borne diseases that can spread from one country to another. Thus, global health should be addressed by collaborative actions and solutions. On the other hand, countries tend to focus on other essential issues that are occurring in the present day and therefore, overlook the global health issue. Some issues that countries