Major Threats To Global Health Security and How We Can Protect Global Health - Bright Chimezie Irem

Major Threats To Global Health Security and How We Can Protect Global Health - Bright Chimezie Irem

In this interconnected world of ours in this 21st century, global health security has emerged as a pressing concern, transcending national borders and demanding a coordinated international response. This short article peeps into the major threats to global health security and explores the multifaceted strategies required for its protection.

Major Threats to Global Health Security

1. Air Pollution and Climate Change: Air pollution, deemed the greatest environmental risk to health by the World Health Organization (WHO), is responsible for 7 million premature deaths annually. Climate change compounds these health risks, potentially causing an additional 250,000 deaths per year from various diseases

2. Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs): Diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease account for over 70% of all global deaths. The rise in NCDs is fueled by factors like tobacco use, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diets

3. Global Influenza Pandemic: The inevitability of another influenza pandemic poses a significant threat. The WHO emphasizes the importance of global surveillance and response systems to manage such pandemics

4. Fragile and Vulnerable Settings: Over 1.6 billion people live in areas with weak health services and protracted crises, making them particularly vulnerable to health emergencies

5. Antimicrobial Resistance: The overuse of antimicrobials has led to increased resistance, threatening to undermine treatments for infections like pneumonia and tuberculosis

6. Ebola and High-Threat Pathogens: Diseases like Ebola represent a serious threat, especially in densely populated or conflict-affected areas

7. Weak Primary Health Care: Inadequate primary health care systems hinder effective disease prevention and response, particularly in low- and middle-income countries

8. Vaccine Hesitancy: Resistance to vaccination threatens to reverse progress in combating vaccine-preventable diseases

9. Dengue: The spread of dengue fever to new regions poses a growing threat, with 40% of the world at risk of the disease

10. HIV/AIDS: Despite advancements, HIV/AIDS continues to be a major global health challenge, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa

Protecting Global Health

1. Strengthening Surveillance Systems: Effective surveillance systems are crucial for monitoring and responding to health threats. The CDC Foundation collaborates internationally to enhance these systems

2. Enhancing Laboratory Systems: Robust laboratory systems are vital for identifying and reporting emerging threats. Efforts are underway to strengthen these systems globally

3. Building a Competent Public Health Workforce: A skilled workforce is essential for disease surveillance and outbreak response. Training and capacity-building initiatives are key to this effort

4. Improving Emergency Management Systems: Efficient emergency response operations are critical for managing public health threats. Enhancing global and regional coordination is a priority

5. Research and Innovation: Research, especially in vaccine development, plays a pivotal role in global health security. Partnerships and collaborations are vital for advancing this area

Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) Strategy

The GHSA is a collaborative effort of over 70 countries and organizations, aiming to build capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats. It emphasizes a multi-sectoral approach, integrating health, security, environmental, and agricultural sectors

Innovation in Global Health Governance

Innovation in global health governance governance involves adopting a multi-sectoral approach, leveraging technology, and fostering international cooperation. It requires adapting to emerging health challenges with agility and resilience, ensuring that global health security is a shared responsibility.

Addressing the major threats to global health security necessitates a synergistic approach, combining robust surveillance, healthcare infrastructure, workforce development, and scientific research. The GHSA's strategy of collaboration across sectors and borders is pivotal in this endeavor. As we face these global challenges, innovation in governance and a commitment to shared responsibility will be key in safeguarding the health and well-being of populations worldwide.

Bright Chimezie Irem - Fellow of Mandela Washington Fellowship , U.S. Department of State | Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy , U.S. Department of State #ExchangeAlumni - Alumni Affairs - State Dept. Global Health Security Fund Global Health Strategies Global Health Corps Global Health System Global Health Economics and Sustainability