Global health threats and health protection

Abstract

Global health is defined as the area of study, research and practice that places a priority on improving health and achieving equity in health for all people worldwide. The term “global health” is rapidly replacing the older terminology of “international health,” and it is focused on worldwide health improvement, reduction of disparities, and protection against global threats that disregard national borders. World Health Organization (WHO) is coordinator, strategic planner and leader of global health initiatives in responding to main global health threats, in international and political context. Other important agencies impacting global health include UNICEF, World Food Programme, World Bank, and United Nations with its important declaration of the Millennium Development Goals. Public health security consider the activities required, both proactive and reactive, to minimize vulnerability to acute public health events that endanger the collective health of world populations. Important global health problems are major epidemics of infectious diseases, emergencies caused by severe weather conditions, natural disasters, and other health consequences that result from improper behavior. In the last decade migrations appear to be linked with numerous health risks, both for the migrants themselves, and for the population in the countries they have migrated to. In the modern world there is always a real possibility that some unexpected event disrupts the regular situation and living conditions, and cause an emergency. The main global health treats are epidemic-prone infectious diseases, weather-related events, natural catastrophes, man-made disasters and other health consequences of human behavior. Lack of global health security has an impact on public health, demographic, political and economic stability, tourism, trade and access to the health services. Each country uses laws to regulate declaring and managing of emergency situations, as well as the system of protection and rescue of people, material and cultural goods and the environment from natural disasters, technical-technological disasters, consequences of terrorism, war and other disasters. Emergency situations require special organization of health protection systems for public health protection. International Health Regulations (IHR) are a framework for prevention and control of global health threats, such as global pandemic response. The IHR, coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO), play an important role in global collaboration to meet threats to public health and public security. The Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) is organized within WHO, and is responsible for monitoring of specific diseases which appear for the first time (emerging diseases) or reoccurring diseases with a large epidemic potential (reemerging diseases). Global programs are prepared and run by world leaders in epidemiology, surveillance, informatics, management, laboratory systems, and other essential disciplines. Partnerships between countries and ministries of health lead to improved quantity and quality of critical public health services, better global health and public security.