The
word prevention [from the Latin “praeventire”, to anticipate] is any action
directed to prevent or tending to slow, stop or interrupt the course of an
illness or suffering. At the same time, we should remember that health by
definition is a bio-psycho-social well-being and not just absence of disease.
The
recent global health reports made me more convinced that in spite of all the
achievements, the world in general and the developing countries in particular,
are still in need of help and support in relation to the scope of health care
which includes the diseases or health problems, equity, monitoring of progress
and performance improvement. Major challenges in health care are related to reduction
of maternal and child mortality, nutritional health, dealing with infectious
diseases, non-communicable diseases and their risk factors, air pollution, the need
for drinking water, sanitation and much more. In addition, there are major data
gaps for many health indicators which require investments in strengthening the
health information and statistical system.
Having
lived and worked in both the developing and the developed world I believe that
more resources have to be allocated to enable anticipation and immediate
prevention of health problems rather than just dealing with consequences.
To
all of the above-mentioned challenges we should also add Anthropocene which is
viewed as the dominant influence of humans on climate, environment, and life of
other species.
You
can read my blog post about this issue using the following link:
Please
note that in the list of healthcare challenges, the first one is and has always
been, reducing the mother and child mortality which is high because of their
vulnerabilities. How can we not have global orientation when year after year we
witness that mothers and children are the victims and the ones who are suffering and dying
the most. Why do we have wars and why don’t we let those who need help to seek
our help.
There
is a global need for spreading kindness instead of fear and unkindness!
