The 3 Main Challenges of Global Health Today | World101

Summary

The script highlights the paradox of a healthier world with increasing life expectancy and declining diseases, yet still facing significant challenges. It emphasizes the rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cancer and diabetes, the unpredictability of infectious diseases, and the complex global health funding landscape dominated by the Gates Foundation and the U.S. government. The narrative underscores the importance of international coordination and sustainable development goals in addressing these health issues in an interconnected world.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The world is experiencing better health conditions than ever before with increasing global life expectancy and a decline in diseases like AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.
• 🔬 Despite progress, significant challenges remain, such as the high mortality rate among children under five, increasing asthma rates, and the rapid spread of viruses like H1N1.
• 🏥 The three major challenges in global health are noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), infectious diseases, and the funding for treatment and prevention.
• 💀 NCDs, including cancer and diabetes, are the leading cause of death worldwide, with a projected increase in mortality rates, especially in Africa.
• 🧘 Long-term care and affordable treatment for NCDs are crucial but can be a significant obstacle in both developing and developed countries.
• 😷 Although the rates of infectious diseases are declining, they still pose a global health challenge due to the unpredictability and difficulty in preparing for outbreaks.
• 🦠 The rapid spread and mutation of viruses, such as Ebola and Zika, make it a race to protect the healthy and quarantine the sick during an outbreak.
• 🤝 International coordination is essential to reduce the spread of diseases, but it is challenging with numerous entities involved, including governments, U.N. agencies, and global funds.
• 🏛 The World Health Organization's capabilities and resources are insufficient to address the proliferation of global health problems, despite its establishment post-World War II.
• 💰 The majority of global health funding comes from the Gates Foundation and the U.S. government, making the health system vulnerable to changes in these sources.
• 📊 The U.N. has shifted from Millennium Development Goals to Sustainable Development Goals, with a focus on improving global health outcomes and addressing health challenges.

Q & A

What is the current state of global health according to the script?

The script indicates that the world is far healthier than ever before, with increasing global life expectancy and a decline in diseases like AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.

Despite progress, what major issue still persists in global health?

Despite the progress, more than 6 million children die before their fifth birthday each year, mostly due to preventable causes.

What are the three major challenges faced by those tasked with improving global health?

The three major challenges are noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), infectious diseases, and funding for treatment and prevention.

Why are non-communicable diseases considered the world's biggest killers?

Non-communicable diseases like cancer and diabetes are the world's biggest killers because they are prevalent and often require extensive long-term care, with access to affordable treatment being a major obstacle in many countries.

What factors are contributing to the rise of non-communicable diseases?

Factors contributing to the rise of NCDs include a sedentary lifestyle, increased substance abuse, and access to processed foods, especially as countries get richer and their populations age.

How has the rate of cancer-related deaths in Africa changed, and what is the projected increase by 2030?

Cancer currently kills about 450,000 people annually in Africa, but by 2030, this rate is projected to climb to almost 1 million people each year.

What is the current state of infectious disease rates worldwide?

The rates of infectious diseases are down worldwide, but they still present a major global health challenge due to the difficulty in predicting and preparing for outbreaks.

What are some examples of recent infectious disease outbreaks mentioned in the script?

Examples of recent infectious disease outbreaks include the 2013 Ebola epidemic in West Africa and the Zika virus, which has been linked to birth defects in children throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

How does the World Health Organization's current capabilities compare to the proliferation of global health problems?

The World Health Organization's capabilities and resources are no match for the proliferation of global health problems, highlighting the need for increased international coordination and funding.

What are the 'Two Washingtons' referred to in the script, and why are they significant in global health funding?

The 'Two Washingtons' refer to the Gates Foundation and the U.S. government, which are significant because they provide the majority of the world's private and public funding for health, making the global health system vulnerable to changes in their funding priorities.

What were the Millennium Development Goals and how have they evolved?

The Millennium Development Goals were eight specific goals adopted by 189 countries in 2000 to improve the lives of the world's poorest citizens, three of which were health-related. In 2015, these were replaced by 17 sustainable development goals, 11 of which focus on improving global health outcomes.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 Global Health Progress and Challenges

The script discusses the overall improvement in global health, with increasing life expectancy and a decline in diseases like AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. Despite this progress, challenges remain, such as the high mortality rate among children under five, the rise in asthma rates, and the rapid spread of viruses like H1N1. The main challenges identified are noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), infectious diseases, and funding for health treatment and prevention.

💊 The Impact of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs)

This paragraph delves into the prevalence and impact of NCDs, which have become the leading cause of death globally. It highlights the rise in life expectancy and living standards as contributing factors to the increased risk of NCDs, such as cancer and diabetes. The paragraph also notes the projected increase in cancer deaths in Africa by 2030 and the difficulties in accessing affordable long-term care and treatment for NCDs in both developing and developed countries.

🦠 The Ongoing Threat of Infectious Diseases

The script addresses the persistent threat of infectious diseases, despite a general decline in their rates worldwide. It emphasizes the unpredictability and difficulty in preparing for outbreaks, citing the 2013 Ebola epidemic and the Zika virus's impact on birth defects and tourism. The challenges of international coordination during health crises are discussed, along with the limitations of the World Health Organization and the reliance on the Gates Foundation and the U.S. government for funding.

🌟 Funding and the Future of Global Health

The final paragraph focuses on the critical issue of funding for global health initiatives. It discusses the vulnerability of the current system due to the concentration of funding from the Gates Foundation and the U.S. government. The paragraph also connects the need for effective responses to NCDs and infectious diseases with the broader goals of the United Nations' sustainable development goals, emphasizing the interconnectedness of global health and the importance of achieving these objectives.

Keywords

💡Global Health

Global health refers to the health conditions and health systems in multiple countries or regions, and the way they interact. In the video, it is the overarching theme, highlighting that despite improvements, there are still significant challenges to be addressed. The script mentions the decline of diseases like AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, but also points out the ongoing issues with non-communicable diseases and infectious diseases.

💡Life Expectancy

Life expectancy is the average number of years a person might expect to live, often used as an indicator to measure the general health of a population. The script notes that global life expectancy is increasing in most countries, which is a sign of progress in global health, but also contributes to the rise in non-communicable diseases as people live longer.

💡Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs)

Noncommunicable diseases are illnesses that are not transmissible or contagious, such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. The script emphasizes that NCDs are the world's biggest killers, with a significant increase in their prevalence due to higher life expectancy and changes in lifestyle and diet.

💡Infectious Diseases

Infectious diseases are caused by pathogens that can be transmitted between individuals. The video script discusses the ongoing threat of infectious diseases, even though their rates are declining, due to the unpredictability of outbreaks and their rapid spread, as illustrated by the Ebola epidemic and the Zika virus.

💡Preventable Causes

Preventable causes refer to the factors or conditions that can be avoided to prevent the occurrence of a disease or death. The script points out the tragedy that millions of children die from preventable causes, indicating a significant area for improvement in global health.

💡Asthma

Asthma is a chronic disease of the airways that transport air to and from the lungs. The script mentions the increasing rates of asthma, particularly among the young and the elderly, as a health concern that requires attention.

💡H1N1 Virus

The H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu, is an example of an infectious disease that can spread rapidly across the globe, as mentioned in the script. It serves to illustrate the speed at which viruses can travel in our interconnected world.

💡Ebola Epidemic

The Ebola epidemic is a specific example of a severe infectious disease outbreak that had a devastating impact, killing thousands in West Africa as referenced in the script. It underscores the challenges of responding to and preparing for infectious disease outbreaks.

💡Zika Virus

The Zika virus is highlighted in the script for its association with birth defects and its economic impact on tourism in affected countries. It exemplifies the multifaceted challenges of infectious diseases, including their long-term health and economic consequences.

💡World Health Organization (WHO)

The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The script discusses its role and the limitations it faces in addressing the proliferation of global health problems, suggesting a need for better international coordination.

💡Funding

Funding in the context of the script refers to the financial resources allocated for treatment, prevention, and health programs. It is identified as a major challenge, with a significant reliance on the Gates Foundation and the U.S. government, indicating potential vulnerabilities in the global health funding system.

💡Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainable Development Goals are a collection of 17 global goals set by the United Nations to address a broad range of social and economic development issues. The script mentions that 11 of these goals are related to improving global health outcomes, emphasizing the interconnectedness of health with other aspects of development.

Highlights

The world is experiencing unprecedented health improvements with increasing global life expectancy and a decline in diseases like AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.

Despite progress, over 6 million children die before the age of five, mostly from preventable causes.

Asthma rates are on the rise among both young and elderly populations.

Infectious diseases like H1N1 can spread rapidly across the globe within days.

Three major challenges for global health improvement are noncommunicable diseases, infectious diseases, and funding for treatment and prevention.

Non-communicable diseases, such as cancer and diabetes, are the leading causes of death worldwide.

In 2015, six out of the top seven global causes of death were non-communicable diseases.

Increased life expectancy and standards of living contribute to the rise in non-communicable diseases.

Cancer in Africa is projected to kill nearly 1 million people annually by 2030.

Non-communicable diseases require extensive long-term care and affordable treatment, posing challenges in both developing and developed countries.

Infectious disease rates are declining worldwide, but they remain a significant health challenge due to unpredictable outbreaks.

The 2013 Ebola epidemic and the Zika virus highlight the devastating impact of infectious diseases.

International coordination is crucial to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, but it is often hampered by numerous involved entities.

The World Health Organization's capabilities are insufficient to address the proliferation of global health problems.

The Gates Foundation and the U.S. government are the primary sources of global health funding, making the system vulnerable to their developments.

The Millennium Development Goals and the subsequent Sustainable Development Goals aim to improve global health outcomes.

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals requires effective responses to non-communicable and infectious diseases and overcoming funding challenges.

Global health is interconnected, meaning health issues in one country can affect the health of all countries.

Transcripts

The world is far healthier than ever before.

Global life expectancy is increasing in most countries, and diseases

like AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria are on the decline.

Despite decades of progress, plenty of work remains.

Every year, more than 6 million children die before their fifth birthday,

the majority by preventable causes.

Rates of asthma are increasing among the young and the old.

And the virus, like H1N1, can spread from San

Diego to Shanghai in only a matter of days.

Those who are tasked with improving global health face three major challenges:

Noncommunicable diseases or NCDs,

Infectious diseases,

and funding for treatment and prevention.

Non-communicable diseases like cancer and diabetes are the world's biggest killers.

In 1993, of the top seven global causes of death were NCDs.

In 2015, it was six out of seven.

This is in part because global life expectancy and standards of living

are on the rise.

As countries get richer and their populations get older,

people are increasingly exposed to the risk factors of NCDs,

such as a sedentary lifestyle, increased substance abuse

and access to processed foods. In Africa,

cancer now kills about 450,000 people annually.

But by 2030, that rate is projected to climb

to almost 1 million people each year.

Non-communicable diseases often require extensive long term care, and access

to affordable treatment

can be a major obstacle in both developing and developed countries.

Unlike NCDs, the rates of infectious diseases are down worldwide.

However, they still present a major global health challenge

because outbreaks are difficult to predict and just as hard to prepare for.

The 2013 Ebola epidemic killed thousands in West Africa.

More recently, Zika has been linked to birth defects in children throughout

Latin America and the Caribbean, and it has scared off tourists

from the worst hit countries, costing local economies billions of dollars.

Health officials can only do so much to respond to infectious diseases

because viruses spread undetected and mutate rapidly.

It becomes a race to protect the healthy and quarantine

the sick in the face of an outbreak.

International coordination

can reduce the odds of a disease spreading to other countries.

But with a crowded cast of 40 government to government donors, 25 U.N.

agencies, 20 global and regional funds and 90 global

initiatives involved in any serious outbreak, coordination is a challenge.

It can be difficult to even determine who's in charge.

The World Health Organization could be taking a leading role.

It was established after World War II for that specific purpose.

But today, its capabilities and resources

are no match for the proliferation of global health problems.

Instead, the majority of funding for these organizations comes

straight from the so-called Two Washingtons, the Gates Foundation,

which gives 68% of the world's private donations in the realm of health.

And the U.S.

government, which provides 52% of all public funding for global health.

While crucial to maintaining health programs around the world,

especially in low income countries dependent on foreign aid.

The concentration of funding for these two sources makes the whole system

extremely vulnerable to personal and political developments.

In 2000, 189 countries made a historic commitment

to improving the lives of the world's poorest citizens, which became eight

specific Millennium Development Goals.

Three of these were health related.

In 2015, the U.N.

replaced these objectives with 17 sustainable development goals,

11 of which deal with improving global health outcomes.

finding new ways to effectively respond to non-communicable

and infectious diseases, and overcoming funding challenges

will help achieve these goals, which are more important than ever before,

because in an increasingly connected world, health in one country

affects health in all.