Communities in developing countries may have to rely on medical clinics many miles away for health care. Photo Credit: Flickr

Medical advances and new technologies have allowed us to fight with increasing success diseases like polio and small pox. Today we are still faced with challenges such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. Some countries face greater health risks because of climate factors, inaccessible pharmaceuticals and lack of health care infrastructure. The World Health Organization, along with many humanitarian aid agencies, is attempting to address these health care disparities. The hope is that these organizations and the countries that suffer the most from these diseases can decrease infant mortality rates and rates of infectious diseases in addition to controlling treatable diseases. Here are a few of the health care challenges that the global community faces today following each definition are links to in-depth articles on each topic.

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Avian Influenza:

Avian influenza, also know as Bird Flu, is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. The disease occurs worldwide. While all birds are thought to be susceptible to infection with avian influenza viruses, many wild bird species carry these viruses with no apparent signs of harm.

Influenza viruses are normally highly species-specific, meaning that viruses that infect an individual species (humans, certain species of birds, pigs, horses, and seals) stay "true" to that species, and only rarely spill over to cause infection in other species.

Of all influenza viruses that circulate in birds, the H5N1 virus is of greatest present concern for human health for two main reasons. First, the H5N1 virus has caused by far the greatest number of human cases of very severe disease and the greatest number of deaths. It has crossed the species barrier to infect humans on at least three occasions in recent years: in Hong Kong in 1997 (18 cases with six deaths), in Hong Kong in 2003 (two cases with one death) and in the current outbreaks that began in December 2003 and were first recognized in January 2004.

A second implication for human health, of far greater concern, is the risk that the H5N1 virus - if given enough opportunities - will develop the characteristics it needs to start another influenza pandemic. The virus has met all prerequisites for the start of a pandemic save one: an ability to spread efficiently and sustainably among humans. While H5N1 is presently the virus of greatest concern, the possibility that other avian influenza viruses, known to infect humans, might cause a pandemic cannot be ruled out.

It is important to remember that the H5N1 virus cannot be transmitted from human to human at this time. It is also important to be aware of the risk for the future.¹

Links to Articles on Avian Influenza:

Avian Influenza

Remember Bird Flu?

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HIV/AIDS:

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes AIDS. It can be passed through bodily fluids to an uninfected person's broken skin or mucous membranes (around the wet tissue of the eyes, nose, vagina and other parts of the human body). The virus can be passed through unprotected sex, intravenous drug use and from a woman to her child during pregnancy, birth or while breast feeding. Some people develop AIDS because of their HIV infection. The virus kills and damages cells in an infected persons' immune system.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the term used to refer to the most advanced stages of an HIV infection. Progressively, the immune system is less able to protect against infection and disease. Opportunistic infections that would not necessarily affect a healthy person can become deadly to an AIDS patient.

The global community has concentrated on prevention and treatment of this deadly disease. There is no cure for HIV/AIDS, but several treatments have been developed including anti-retrovirals (ARVs). Many people infected with the virus are now able to live a long and mostly healthy life if they have access to these drugs. However, many of the treatments are still experimental and can cause severe side effects. In addition, access to these drugs is by no means universal. The cost can be prohibitive in developing countries and individuals often do not have access to medical treatment or counseling. ²

The AIDS pandemic has continued to grow despite the efforts of local governments, NGOs and institutions like the World Health Organization and UNAIDS.

Links to Articles on HIV/AIDS:

HIV and AIDS Resources

The Future of the AIDS Fight

Beating HIV/AIDS Still Needs a Scientific Approach

Sixteen Important Actions for AIDS Prevention and Treatment

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Malaria:

"Malaria is an infection caused by a parasite and carried from person to person by mosquitoes. It is preventable and curable but kills more than one million people—most of them young children living in Africa—each year."¹ It is endemic in parts of Asia, Africa, Central and South America, Oceania, and certain Caribbean islands. It is characterized by extreme exhaustion associated with paroxysms of high fever, sweating, shaking, chills and anemia.

There are many ways to prevent and treat malaria including the use of nets to keep mosquitoes away from the skin as well as vaccines. Recently the WHO advocated the use of the chemical DDT to kill disease carrying mosquitoes in Africa as part of an indoor residual spraying (IRS) strategy. There has been much debate over this strategy, as DDT could adversely affect health and the environment. ¹

Links to Articles on Malaria:

Malaria

DDT, Malaria, and Africa

DDT Use for Malaria Control Threatens Public Health

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Malnutrition:

Malnutrition is a major health problem, especially in developing countries. Water supply, sanitation and hygiene, given their direct impact on infectious disease, especially diarrhea, are important for preventing malnutrition. Both malnutrition and inadequate water supply and sanitation are linked to poverty. The impact of repeated or persistent diarrhea on nutrition-related poverty and the effect of malnutrition on susceptibility to infectious diarrhea are reinforcing elements of the same vicious circle, especially amongst children in developing countries.

Malnutrition essentially means "bad nourishment". It concerns not enough as well as too much food, the wrong types of food, and the body's response to a wide range of infections that result in malabsorption of nutrients or the inability to use nutrients properly to maintain health. Clinically, malnutrition is characterized by inadequate or excess intake of protein, energy, and micronutrients such as vitamins, and the frequent infections and disorders that result.¹

Links to Articles on Malnutrition:

Food Security Resources

Malnutrition Still Shadows Niger's Children

Seven Reasons Why We Can End Hunger in Our Lifetime

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Pandemic:

A Pandemic is an epidemic that has spread worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, a pandemic can start when three conditions have been met: the emergence of a disease new to the population, the agent infects humans, causing serious illness and the agent spreads easily and sustainably among humans.¹

Links to Articles on Pandemics:

A Primer for Pandemics

World AIDS Pandemic Still Expanding, United Nations Reports

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Tuberculosis:

Tuberculosis (TB) is primarily an illness of the respiratory system, and is spread by coughing and sneezing. Each year about 1.7 million people die from this curable disease. Like the common cold, it spreads through the air. Only people who are sick with TB in their lungs are infectious.

In addition, HIV and TB form a lethal combination, each speeding the other's progress. HIV weakens the immune system. Someone who is HIV-positive and infected with TB bacilli is many times more likely to become sick with TB than someone infected with TB bacilli that is HIV-negative. TB is a leading cause of death among people who are HIV-positive. It accounts for about 13% of AIDS deaths worldwide. In Africa, HIV is the single most important factor determining the increased incidence of TB in the past 10 years.¹

Links to Articles on Tuberculosis:

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis in South Africa - Is Forced Isolation the Cure?

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World Health Organization (WHO):

"The World Health Organization is the United Nations specialized agency for health. It was established on 7 April 1948. WHO's objective, as set out in its Constitution, is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. Health is defined in WHO's Constitution as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."¹

Links to Articles on the World Health Organization:

World Health Organization

A Time of Challenge and Opportunity at the WHO

Global AIDS Epidemic Continues to Grow

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Footnotes:

¹ World Health Organization

² Center for Disease Control






Contributed by Rachelle Vanderzanden, Project Intern at GlobalEnvision. Rachelle is an undergraduate student at Portland State University where she is currently studying political science. She comes to GlobalEnvision and Mercy Corps through a community-based learning program at her university called Student Leaders for Service. Upon completing her degree, Rachelle hopes to pursue a career in international development.

To read more about global health, see Worldmapper - The Human Anatomy of a Small Planet.

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