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Common Health Issues in Different Parts of the World and How Are They Being Combatted

Written by CB Community

Changed agricultural practices, advanced transportation systems, and a globalized economy – all these factors have greatly contributed to giving rise to numerous health issues all around the globe.

Medical school instructors and practicing physicians are playing their roles to combat and prevent such issues. 

Wondering what are those health concerns and what measures are being taken to counter them?

Perhaps you are a medical student or studying healthcare and are curious to learn about common health issues around the world.

Keep reading to learn more about these common health issues and how they are being combatted:

Non-Communicable Diseases

According to WHO, diabetes, cancer, stroke, heart disease, and other NCDs (Non-Communicable Diseases) are responsible for 70% of the world’s total deaths.

What’s more surprising is the fact that 85% of premature NCD-related deaths take place in countries where a larger number of people have lower incomes.

This is the reason why these diseases are also referred to as ‘lifestyle diseases’ because people with poor incomes are more likely to develop these diseases due to their unhealthy lifestyles.

Alcohol consumption, tobacco use, inactivity, and poor diets are a few of those factors that cause NCDs. While taking care of these factors is important to prevent these diseases, it’s also crucial to take greater steps to combat them. 

How are they being combatted?

  • Quality of food products is being ensured by strict regulation of private sectors all over the world.
  • Better healthcare workers are being hired, which is enabling patients to have easy access to healthcare and have an early diagnosis. 
  • Healthcare workers pursuing relevant degrees like an online MPH are more in demand, given that they commit well to their job. 
  • Affordable treatments are being provided to patients with NCD, helping them fight against chronic diseases. 

Access To Healthcare

Even though the medical world has evolved quite a lot, many people still find difficulty accessing basic healthcare and health education. Lack of access is caused either due to geography or due to economic disparities.

While the shortage of physicians in rural areas makes access to health care difficult for people living in rural areas, it’s also inaccessible for people dealing with economic challenges for whom getting basic healthcare might cost an arm and a leg.

Given how this inaccessibility to healthcare has become one of the leading causes of high infant mortality rates, the following steps are being taken to combat this issue.

How is it being combatted?

  • Access to healthcare is being expanded by making use of public-private partnerships and private sectors. 
  • Inequalities are being reduced by introducing conditional cash transfer programs, targeting health promotion, subsidizing travel costs, and reducing distances. 
  • The direct cost of care is also being reduced at the point of service, which is enabling free treatment for the poor.
  • Physicians are also being employed in remote areas to perform their duties. 

Environmental Factors

Environmental factors greatly influence human health. Poor water quality, infrastructure issues, diseases caused by microbes, climate change, natural disasters, air pollution, and chemical safety – all these environmental factors are a great threat to human health.

However, the world is coping with it in all the right ways.

How are they being combatted?

  • There have been advancements in technology that enable the use of wind and solar energy as alternative sources of energy.
  • Carpooling and walking are being encouraged, which is eventually contributing to the reduction of air pollution.
  • Campaigns are being introduced that make people aware of the importance of tuned engines, properly inflated tires, and tightened gas caps.
  • Reservoirs are being installed in agricultural areas that will store excess water and prevent areas from flooding.
  • Access to clean water is being increased globally.

Pandemics and Epidemics

Humans, being highly vulnerable to diseases, have been fighting pandemics and epidemics since a very old time.

The flu pandemic, the American polio epidemic, Spanish flu, Asian flu, Aids pandemic, and COVID-19 pandemic are some examples.

To date, the deadly COVID-19 virus accounts for the death of about 4.8 million people from around the world. The number of deaths will keep rising until the virus is fully gone.

However, the death rate can be controlled if the precautionary measures are followed religiously.

Many countries all around the world are making efforts to combat this fatal virus, and to some extent, those efforts are working. 

How is it being combatted?

  • Countries are shutting down their borders and putting a ban on international flights to prevent the spread of the virus from one country to another. 
  • Mass mobility and local transportation services are being banned.
  • Countries are joining hands to provide each other with necessary healthcare equipment and sanitary and medication materials.
  • Programs are being introduced that help people deal with the social and financial burdens of the pandemic. 

Conclusion

Given how the entire world is dealing with health-related issues, global health is in danger. However, appropriate steps are being taken all around the globe to counter such issues.

While those steps are also imperative to the protection of global health, it’s also crucial to have professional healthcare workers at hand to take necessary steps to combat and prevent health issues. 

So if you are studying medicine or working your way into the field of healthcare, you could make a huge difference when it comes to preventing and treating common health issues.

About the author

CB Community

Passionate members of the College Basics community that include students, essay writers, consultants and beyond. Please note, while community content has passed our editorial guidelines, we do not endorse any product or service contained in these articles which may also include links for which College Basics is compensated.