Global Health Threats Affect All of Us
Drug resistant infectious diseases... natural and humanitarian crises... malnutrition and contaminated foods... toxic substances... biological and chemical terrorism... rising social inequalities and highly vulnerable populations... weak, inefficient or dysfunctional health systems... realities like these are affecting the health of people all over the world.
The fact is, no matter where we live, our well-being depends on how health issues are managed around the world.
Here are just a few reasons why:
• Travel and Migration
• Inadequate Public Health Infrastructure
• Urbanization
• Globalization of Trade
• Aging and Chronic Diseases
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Inadequate Public Health Infrastructure
The bio-terrorism incidents of 2001, the SARS epidemic of 2003, and multiple outbreaks of avian flu since 2003 have revealed our vulnerability to the threat from diseases virtually unknown previously and our lack or preparedness to respond to pandemics of potentially catastrophic proportions.
These events make it clear that communities across the globe will have to upgrade their public health infrastructure. Health practitioners are a vital part of the implementing arm of our public health system. Most training curricula do not, however, prepare them to respond effectively to public health threats in their communities. They must be able to diagnose and treat the health consequences of global risks and understand their underlying causes. |
