Report identifies priority areas to improve global health
Cancer, infectious disease, and illness due to childbirth are on the rise. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) highlighted these areas as key priorities for the U.S. in the May 15 report Global Health and the Future Role of the United States, which included insights from an NASEM ad hoc committee.
The committee identified the following four actions that would help improve global health:
- Improving the lives of women and children
- Raising awareness for cardiovascular health and preventing cancer
- Focusing on treatment of infectious diseases
- Reaching health security globally
Annually, an estimated 6 million children die before their fifth birthday, while 300,000 women die from childbirth and pregnancy, according to NASEM. Nearly all (99%) maternal deaths happen in developing countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Most of these are preventable and related to pregnancy complications. To combat these complications, the report recommends government agencies such as USAID develop programs to focus on childhood development, monitor nutrition, and detect and manage maternal mental health issues such as postpartum depression.
When it comes to preventing cancer, interventions include early detection and immunization for vaccine-preventable cancers. This is crucial as cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, with 8.8 million deaths due to cancer in 2015, according to WHO. For poor countries with unequipped health systems, cancer treatment and prevention can be built into other program areas such as maternal health. The cost of treatment is rising along with the rate of the disease, so there needs to be an increased focus on preventative measures.
To best respond to infectious diseases, it is important to focus preventative efforts globally. The three greatest infectious disease threats are AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. Approximately 36.7 million people worldwide are currently living with HIV/AIDS, while only 18.2 million have access to antiretroviral therapy treatment, according to aids.gov. Recommendations for fighting these diseases include enacting the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief to promote accountability for HIV/AIDS, executing a plan of action through USAID to create vaccines, drugs, and delivery systems to prevent tuberculosis, and eliminating malaria through the President’s Malaria Initiative.
Lastly, to reach global health security, basic health protections need to be in place in the U.S. and abroad. This means providing training and exchanging information with low income countries, being prepared for global outbreak response, and searching for sustainable solutions. To do this, NASEM advises the U.S. government create a department designed specifically for international public health emergency response.
Improving global health is a continuous battle that needs proper resources, time, and energy. The U.S. needs to take a more proactive and systematic approach to better handle these threats, says NASEM.