Issues in Global Health Minority Women in Medicine October 25, 2006

Global Health Challenges: some statistics…  1 Billion people lack access to health care systems  Around 11 million children under age 5 die from malnutrition and mostly preventable diseases each year  In 2002, almost 11 million people died of infectious diseases alone

Global Health Challenges: some statistics…  AIDS/HIV has spread rapidly. UNAIDS estimates for 2005 that there were roughly: 40 million living with HIV (most in Africa, 25.8 million) 4.9 million new HIV infections (mostly in Africa, 3.2 million) 3.1 million AIDS-related deaths, (mostly in Africa, 2.4 million)

Global Health Challenges: some statistics…  There are 8.8 million new cases and 1.75 million deaths from TB each year  Malaria causes more than 300 million acute illnesses and at least 1 million deaths, annually  More than 500,000 people, mostly children, died from measles in EVEN though effective immunization costs just $30 US per person, and has been available for 40 years

Global Health Challenges: Beyond AIDS/HIV…  AIDS/HIV is a terrible disease, but there are conditions beyond it that are even more debilitating, and not as well known  Ex: Kwashiorkor: a form of malnutrition caused by inadequate protein intake Infectious Diseases: many already have vaccines that are not available to developing nations  Malaria  TB  STDs

Global Health Challenges: Infectious Disease  Despite medical advances, infectious diseases still occupy most of the top ten causes of death worldwide  More than 90% of the deaths from infectious disease are caused by only a few culprits: Lower respiratory infections HIV/AIDS Diarrhea TB Malaria Measles

Global Health Challenges: Infectious Disease  “Neglected” Infectious Diseases: Trachoma – contagious disease of the eye; leading cause of blindness in Asia/Africa Intestinal parasites Leprosy – still afflicts 3 million worldwide Dengue Yellow fever Many, many more…

Global Health Challenges: Infectious Diseases

 WHY? Biological, Social and Economic factors:  Evolving human migration patterns  Antibiotic resistance  Cultural stigmas  especially in relation to the spread of STDs  Poverty Poor nutrition  compromised immune systems Overcrowded living conditions  more vulnerable to communicable diseases Limited access to healthcare/drugs

Global Health Challenges: Infectious Disease

Top Ten Deadly Diseases of the Developing World

Ten Leading Causes of Death in the US, 2003 RankCause 1Heart Disease 2Malignant Neoplasms (cancer) 3Cerbrovascular Disease 4Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases 5Unintentional Injuries 6Diabetes Mellitus 7Influenza and pneumonia 8Alzheimer’s Disease 9Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis 10Septicemia Source: US National Center for Health Statistics, Health, United States, 2005.

Global Healthcare Issues… Universal Health Care  1 BILLION people lack access to health care….  All residents of a geographic/political entity have their health care paid for by the government – regardless of medical condition or financial status

Universal Health Care  Nations with universal health care: Argentina Australia Austria Belgium Canada Cuba Denmark Finland France Germany Greece Ireland Italy Japan The Netherlands New Zealand Norway Portugal Russia Saudi Arabia Seychelles South Korea Spain Sri Lanka Sweden China United Kingdom

Universal Health Care: Support  Health care is a right/entitlement.  Ensuring the health of all citizens benefits a nation economically.  Health care increasingly unaffordable for businesses and individuals.  Reduces wastefulness and inefficiencies in the delivery of health care.

Universal Health Care: Support  Reduces the severity of epidemics by reducing the number of disease carriers  Aligns incentives for investment in long term health care productivity, preventive care, and better management of chronic conditions  A centralized national database makes diagnosis and treatment easier for doctors.  Medical professionals can concentrate on treating patients rather than on administrative duties  Profit motive adversely affects the cost and quality of health care.

Universal Health Care: Opposition  Increased waiting times  Poorer quality of care, as opposed to private healthcare  Unequal access and health disparities still exist  Government agencies are less efficient due to bureaucracy  Must be funded with higher taxes/spending cuts in other areas.

Universal Health Care: Opposition  Profit motives, competition, and individual ingenuity lead to greater cost control and effectiveness  Uninsured citizens can still receive emergency care from alternative sources such as non- profits and government-run hospitals  Government mandated procedures reduce doctor flexibility  Causes loss of insurance industry jobs and other business closures in the private sector

Interesting Articles…  A Lesson from Europe on Health Care A Lesson from Europe on Health Care  Hospitals Try Free Basic Care for Uninsured Hospitals Try Free Basic Care for Uninsured

Global Health Volunteering Opportunities  International Volunteer Program Association:  Volunteer Abroad:  Institute of International Education:  Doctors Without Borders:

Websites to Check Out…  World Health Organization  Global Health Council  Global Health: US Department of Health and Human Services  USAID