Global Health
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The WHO defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity". The health of an individual or a community is affected by the social, spiritual, environmental, political and economic climate in which it lives. There is great disparity in terms of the standard of healthcare offered and attained throughout the world, and it is often the poorest and most uneducated or marginalised communities that suffer the most. In the last thirty years, the impact of urbanization, globalisation, climate change, natural disasters, deforestation, international terrorism and exploitation has escalated. The pressure on existing health systems, particularly in resource poor countries, is too great for them to meet the increasing demands. The three health-related Millennium Development Goals (child mortality, maternal health and infectious diseases) are far from being reached and the following WHO statistics remain undiminished:
The Declaration of Alma Ata stated, in 1978, that: "The main target should be the attainment by all the people of the world of a level of health that will permit them to lead a socially, economically and productive life. Primary health care is the means of achieving this goal." This vision is still endorsed, as Dr Margaret CHAN, Director General of WHO, stated in August 2007: "Decades of experience tell us that primary health care is the best route to universal access, the best way to ensure sustainable improvements in health outcomes, and the best guarantee that access to care will be fair." Whilst governments focus on national health programmes, non-governmental and faith-based organizations are gaining both credibility and ground when it comes to providing primary health care and education to the poorest communities, who are often unable to access or afford government facilities. WHO even stated that 40% of health care provision in Sub-Saharan Africa is provided by "faith-based entities". Ensuring that there is cooperation and coordination between the local, national and international health provision is a vital step towards improving standards and equality. |
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