Reflection Journal
From the course, I have learnt that there is a heavy burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases and this is a great threat to the global health. This burden has increased the level of poverty and has negatively impacted the economic development (Skolnik, 2012). Non-communicable diseases (NCD) are influenced by unplanned urbanization and unhealthy lifestyles. I have learnt that lower-income countries are vulnerable to risk of non-communicable diseases and this becomes a big challenge as they are unable to implement control measures. Health transition has caused demographic dynamics and the change has impacted the health financing decision due to the fact that many people need health services despite the limited resources (Skolnik, 2012). What surprised me is that the higher level of morbidity and mortality is a result of epidemiological transition. This is because, it affects the health needs of the population and the health system faces challenge in implementing technologies and approaches to meet health needs (Skolnik, 2012).The Global Burden of Disease Study states that there are health challenges facing the world in 21st century. In addition, many developing countries are facing health transition and this is causing both demographic and epidemiological changes. The change has a profound effect on health service in terms of health care cost (Skolnik, 2012).
The lessons from global healthy will apply in my future career. This is because; I will apply this knowledge in different areas such as infectious disease management, community outreach and more. Having the knowledge and skills on global health, I will help the public prevent from the risks of non-communicable and communicable diseases (Evert, Drain & Hall, 2014). In addition, the lesson learnt from epidemiologic transition will assist in helping the vulnerable immigrants’ communities in disease control and prevention. Due to demographic changes, I will use evidence-based decision making to implement prevention and control programs and find strategies for maximizing the resource utilization diseases (Evert, Drain & Hall, 2014). In my career, I also feel that the technology will play role in global health arena in order to improve the health care system and eliminate the burden of disease. First, Low-income countries need health-related technologies such as medical devices. Medical devices are not medicines but rather they are used for prevention and control diseases (Evert, Drain & Hall, 2014). World Health Organization states that medical devices such as low-cost infant warmers, portable low-cost ventilators among many other are important in health care services. Other point is that road-traffic injuries are causing higher rates of death in low-income countries. Limb-immobilization device should be implemented for improving care. Mobile applications should also be used in community in providing preventative measures diseases (Evert, Drain & Hall, 2014). In addition, the government should eliminate the burden of diseases through implementing an integrated action.
Reference
Skolnik, R. L., & Skolnik, R. L. (2012). Global health 101. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
In Evert, J., In Drain, P. K., & In Hall, T. L. (2014). Developing global health programming: A guidebook for
medical and professional schools.
