What is Global Health?

As we make advances in technology and science, the world is becoming more globalized. This raises the need for an understanding of global health. Global health looks at the health of populations around the world, but does so in a holistic manner, evaluating all factors that affect health, such as the environment, socioeconomic status, and even political landscapes. 

International health is sometimes used synonymously to global health, as this field looks at improving health and achieving health equity for all worldwide, by focusing on areas such as mental, physical, social, and spiritual health [1]. The United Nations (UN) 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) completely encompass this field, which is why they are also known as Global Goals, agreed upon by world leaders [2]. These goals advocate for many global issues, such as human rights, universal education, and creating sustainable cities, through the intersectionality of various targets and aims that fall under each SDG. However, many global centres are located in high-income countries, as “global health stems from strong national public health institutions”, which is not typically seen in low- and middle-income countries [1]. This begs the question of whether global health is primarily the concern of high-income countries as they have the power to address global issues like combating poverty worldwide.

Global health also aims to improve knowledge translation through increased research, data collection and ensuring that findings are shared with the global community. Global health improves healthcare through the translation of information. In the case of COVID-19, many countries were able to communicate with others around the world to prepare, prevent, monitor, and mitigate the spread of disease. Collaborative action allows for improved social systems, as well as the protection and empowerment of vulnerable populations. Global health allows us to continuously learn and develop our health systems, which includes both human and environmental health. For example, the Paris Agreement aims to take action against climate change and keep the global temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius [3]. The agreement encompasses global health in action, as countries are working together towards a common goal that will benefit all living things on Earth. 

Global health is collaboration, empowerment, development, and collective action. Through global health, we can work together to find sustainable and relevant solutions to complex problems. This is the pillar needed to create a healthy future, both for the health of the planet and for the people and animals living on Earth.

Reference

1. Beaglehole R, Bonita R. What is global health? [Internet]. NCBI. Global health action; 2010 [cited 2020Jun26]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2852240/

2. Project Everyone. The 17 Goals [Internet]. The Global Goals For Sustainable Development. [cited 2020Jun26]. Available from: https://www.globalgoals.org/

3. United Nations Climate Change. The Paris Agreement [Internet]. UNFCCC. [cited 2020Jun27]. Available from: https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement