Transcript Why should we in wealthy developed countries care about the

Global Health, Faith
and Human Rights
So What?
Why should we in wealthy developed
countries care about the world’s least
healthy people in developing countries?
Three primary reasons:
1.) national security
2.) economic
3.) ethical/moral (Matthew 25:31-46)
National Security Interests
"It is axiomatic that infectious diseases do not respect
national borders. Pathogens migrate great distances to
pose health hazards everywhere…
This constant cycle of congregation, consumption, and
movement allows infectious diseases to mutate and
spread across populations and boundaries. These
human activities have profound consequences for
people in all parts of the world and no country can
insulate itself from their effects. The world’s
communities are interdependent and reliant on one
another for health security."
L. Gostin, “Why Rich Countries Should Care about the World’s Least Healthy People,”
Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 298 (July 4, 2007):89-90
Drug-resistant TB seen at
record levels globally
Wed 27 Feb 2008
Life expectancy at birth, males
Infectious diseases
Biggest Killers:
AIDS
TB (Tuberculosis)
Malaria
Diarrheal Diseases
The “Lazarus” Effect
fertility rate
Rosenfield A et al. N Engl J Med 2007;356:1395-1397
Three (of 4) Critical Foundations for
Public Health and Personal Development
- Reliable and effective sewage systems
- Safe drinking water
- Enough nutritious food
Implementation bottleneck +
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Vaccines
Primary Health Care
Drug therapies
Maternal Child Health Care
Basic Surgery
Gates Foundation develops:
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Microbicides and other preventive
tools
New malaria and TB drugs,
diagnostics
New combination therapies
Drugs for neglected diseases
>10 new vaccines
Slide courtesy of Jim Kim, MD/PhD
Poverty & Health Trap
• For many poor countries, poverty itself is a trap. Main Reasons:
1.) Physical geography: many of the world’s poorest countries are landlocked,
situated in high mountain ranges and lack navigable rivers, long coastlines or
natural harbors = high transportation costs & low agricultural productivity
2.) Fiscal issues: if population is poor, taxation is not feasible; governments can be
corrupt/inept/incapacitated; debt overhang to IMF = insufficient $ resources
3.) Governance failures: good government is not natural or easy = corruption
4.) Cultural barriers: unequal rights for women, lack of viable futures, high
fertility rates = no hope
Critical and Inexpensive Interventions
1.) safe drinking water & sanitation (hygiene)
2.) extended breastfeeding (beyond 6 months)
3.) increased access to prenatal, neonatal and postnatal care
4.) increased rate of vaccinations & immunizations
5.) increased access to antibiotics
6.) increased access to bed nets to prevent malaria transmission
7.) improved nutrition
8.) improved education and family planning
* Expanded economic opportunities, micro-credit operations,
and equal rights for women (Kiva, Grameen Bank, BRAC)
Spring Break trip to Peru
A rural public health clinic
An urban public health clinic
A public clinic
CSI medical mission trip to Haiti
Take-Home Message & “To Do” List
1.) Read “Mountains Beyond Mountains”
2.) Recognize your privileges in life (I didn’t)
3.) Achieve fluency in a foreign language
4.) Pursue opportunities to visit developing countries
5.) Start now: don’t wait ‘till college or later…