USAID Bureau for Global Health staff is committed to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 on Good Health and Well Being
Strengthening Health Systems to Promote Good Health
World Health Day is observed internationally on April 7 to raise awareness
regarding the critical role of good health to ensure healthy lives and promote
wellbeing for all at all ages. – UN Global Goal 3
This year’s theme for World Health Day is Beat Diabetes, a noncommunicable
disease that affects 350 million people globally and is likely to double in the
next 20 years. The prevalence of diabetes has been steadily increasing over the
past few decades, in particular in low- and middle-income countries. As
populations urbanize, people tend to consume more refined and less nutritious
food. As countries develop and their epidemiology changes, we witness a rise
in noncommunicable diseases that is more typical of affluent countries.
disease that affects 350 million people globally and is likely to double in the
next 20 years. The prevalence of diabetes has been steadily increasing over the
past few decades, in particular in low- and middle-income countries. As
populations urbanize, people tend to consume more refined and less nutritious
food. As countries develop and their epidemiology changes, we witness a rise
in noncommunicable diseases that is more typical of affluent countries.
This is why building strong health systems is such an important global health
investment. Strong health systems allow countries to address current health
concerns as well as new priorities that are bound to emerge as countries develop
and our climate changes. Some of the key components or “building blocks”
that are necessary to strengthen health systems and build country capacity
include effective governance and financing, a competent health workforce,
appropriate service delivery models, up-to-date information and quality medicines
that reach people who need them.
investment. Strong health systems allow countries to address current health
concerns as well as new priorities that are bound to emerge as countries develop
and our climate changes. Some of the key components or “building blocks”
that are necessary to strengthen health systems and build country capacity
include effective governance and financing, a competent health workforce,
appropriate service delivery models, up-to-date information and quality medicines
that reach people who need them.
Effective governance can alter policies to change food consumption patterns.
Health financing can drive provider and client behavior toward prevention,
promotion, and cost-effective disease management. A competent and well-trained
health worker can ensure all patients are managed at the appropriate level of
the health system. Information systems can identify patterns of disease and
empower patients. Effective management of diseases depends on getting the
right medicines to patients, in good condition, at the right time.
Health financing can drive provider and client behavior toward prevention,
promotion, and cost-effective disease management. A competent and well-trained
health worker can ensure all patients are managed at the appropriate level of
the health system. Information systems can identify patterns of disease and
empower patients. Effective management of diseases depends on getting the
right medicines to patients, in good condition, at the right time.
The U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID’s) collaboration
with countries to strengthen their pharmaceutical systems, including work on
supply chain management of quality and essential health products for HIV
and AIDS and other diseases, seeks to build country capacity and ownership
for disease prevention and treatment. Our work to strengthen health systems
lays the groundwork for better surveillance and for more sustainable, effective
prevention, treatment, and control of all diseases.
with countries to strengthen their pharmaceutical systems, including work on
supply chain management of quality and essential health products for HIV
and AIDS and other diseases, seeks to build country capacity and ownership
for disease prevention and treatment. Our work to strengthen health systems
lays the groundwork for better surveillance and for more sustainable, effective
prevention, treatment, and control of all diseases.
Our work in nutrition also contributes to linking disease risk factors to
nutritional habits.Poor nutrition during the first 1,000 days increases the risk
of nutrition-related noncommunicable diseases later in life, including diabetes.
Research shows that stunting, low birthweight, and intrauterine growth
restriction caused by poor nutrition during pregnancy are all significantly
associated with preconditions of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Our
work in social and behavior change communication addresses the cultural
and behavioral dimensions of disease treatment and management, which are
also fundamental when dealing with diabetes. Our work in infectious diseases
is also critical because people with diabetes are two to three times more likely
to get active tuberculosis (TB), which is why effective detection and treatment
of TB through a strong and well-equipped health system is essential to reducing
the impact of both diseases.
nutritional habits.Poor nutrition during the first 1,000 days increases the risk
of nutrition-related noncommunicable diseases later in life, including diabetes.
Research shows that stunting, low birthweight, and intrauterine growth
restriction caused by poor nutrition during pregnancy are all significantly
associated with preconditions of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Our
work in social and behavior change communication addresses the cultural
and behavioral dimensions of disease treatment and management, which are
also fundamental when dealing with diabetes. Our work in infectious diseases
is also critical because people with diabetes are two to three times more likely
to get active tuberculosis (TB), which is why effective detection and treatment
of TB through a strong and well-equipped health system is essential to reducing
the impact of both diseases.
Learn more
- Read about USAID’s Vision for Health System Strengthening [PDF, 1.6MB]
- Learn how USAID purchases and distributes life-saving medicines and health supplies.
- The USAID Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Strategy references how nutrition is a major risk factor and an important component for managing diabetes.
- A CNN article explores the strong link between TB and Diabetes: Modern life fuels an old infection: Could diabetes inflame the TB epidemic?
- Read about the SPRING Project and how USAID supports activities across a range of nutrition projects;
- Learn more about WHO’s 2016 World Health Day Campaign: Stay Super: Beat Diabetes
- Learn about USAID's Behavior Change Framework [PDF, 730KB] to accelerate progress in global health and newly launched Accelerator Behavior Website
Photo credit: USAID
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