The Most Known Health Issue in the World
The Most Known Health Issue in the
World
The world is facing a series of serious health challenges elkhart.coop. Whether it’s vaccine
resistance, climate change, or the spread of infectious diseases like the COVID-19
pandemic, these issues can affect global wellbeing and life expectancy.
The United Nations system has long been involved in promoting and protecting
global health, with the World Health Organization (WHO) whose constitution came
into force on 7 April 1948, which is now celebrated as World Health Day. The WHO
focuses on the broader health and social determinants of health through cross-
sectoral action and collaboration with partners across the UN system and beyond.
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are
the leading cause of death worldwide. They are largely preventable with measures
such as smoking cessation, healthy diets, regular physical activity, and limiting
alcohol intake. The WHO has recently set a target to reduce premature deaths from
NCDs by 20% by 2025.
Despite progress since the first Surgeon General’s report on tobacco in 1964,
smoking continues to be one of the most significant risks for global health. It is a
major cause of poor health, including heart disease, lung disease, and a range of
cancers. It is also a risk for pregnancy and can increase the chance of low birth
weight, premature delivery, and infant mortality. The use of all forms of tobacco
products – cigarettes, cigars, bidis, and kreteks – is dangerous. Smoking can even
double a person’s risk of having a heart attack or stroke, and the effects are far-
reaching.
People’s access to the health services they need to stay healthy is also affected by
international politics, particularly if war or natural disaster causes people to move
from their homes to seek safety and opportunities elsewhere. This creates situations
where diseases can easily spread as communities establish themselves in new
places, and it is important that solutions bridge short-term humanitarian crisis
responses with long-term health care access improvements.
Other major risk factors include poverty and inequality, which can limit people’s
ability to access and afford the services they need. In addition, pollution and
environmental degradation can have significant health impacts, with air pollution
causing over 6 million deaths each year, and lead poisoning another 1 million. While
many high-income countries have made efforts to control air and water pollution,
there is still a lot of work to do in low- and middle-income countries. These risks are
further exacerbated by insecure land ownership and inadequate housing, which can
prevent communities from being able to access services and make informed
decisions about their health.