10 HEALTH

Quarter 3 ------Module 1:
Health Trends, Issues and Concerns

What I Need to Know

Learning Competencies: At the end of this module, you are expected to:
 Discusses the significance of global health initiatives. H10HC-IIIa1
 Describe how global health initiatives positively impact people’s health in various
countries. H10HC-IIIbc-2
 Analyze the issues in the implementation of global health initiatives. H10HC-IIIbc-3

What’s In
In this phase, you will answer activities which will assess your background knowledge. At the end of the
phase, you will be assessed again to check for the knowledge and concepts and information you have
learned. A number of activities are provided for Differentiated Instruction. Some of these can be used as
make-up activities during inclement weather, holidays and the like.

Brainstorming
Brainstorm on this: What are the biggest health issues and concerns that people around the world face
today? List them on your answer sheet. Your teacher will help you clarify new terms and concepts.

What’s New
Global Health and the Millennium Development Goals

The term “global health” rose in popularity along with the rise of
globalization. Both terms improved public awareness of
vulnerabilities and shared responsibilities among people for the
different injustices in the world.

Ilona Kickbush (2006), director of the Global Health Program at

the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies
in Geneva, Switzerland states that global health pertains to various health issues, concerns,
and trends which go beyond national boundaries and call for global initiatives for the
protection and promotion of peoples’ health across the world.

Koplan and Associates (2009) states that global health is an area for study, research and practice that
prioritizes health improvement and achieving impartiality in healthcare and wellness worldwide. Beagle
hole and Bonita (2010) gave a short but meaningful definition of global health: cooperative research and
action of international communities to promote health for all.
World Health Organization (WHO)- the primary international body responsible for developing leadership in
health, setting norms and standards and providing health support among nations around the world
Global Health Initiatives

One of the benefits of globalization to the world is the development and improvement of various health
initiatives initiated by different nations and governments to address health issues and concerns. Global
health initiatives are programs set in motion by the United Nations through the World Health Organization
and in partnership with the World Bank which targets specific health problems including but not limited to
emerging and re-emerging diseases, climate change, environmental sanitation, mental health, tobacco
regulation, and alcohol use.

What Is It

Millennium Development Goals

The United Nations Millennium Development Goals are eight targets that all 191 UN Member States have
agreed to achieve by 2015.The United Nations Millennium Declaration, signed in September 2000commits
world leaders to fight discrimination against women and children, disease,hunger, poverty, illiteracy, and
environmental degradation. All of these goals cannot be attained without addressing each and every one. All
of them influence, affect and depend on better global health programs and policies.

1 Developing countries particularly in Africa and Asia suffer from extreme

poverty and hunger. Poverty and hunger leads to severe malnutrition which
leads to lifelong physical and cognitive (learning and reasoning) damage
and affects health, well-being and the economy. Some key suggestions to
eradicate poverty and hunger are:

 Education
 Promoting gender equality
 Producing more jobs
 Investing more in agriculture
 Strengthened nutrition programs for children and infants
 Support and protection of developing and vulnerable countries during crisis.

2 Persons, particularly women who are educated, are more likely to seek
medical care especially during pregnancy, ensuring proper nutrition for their
family, adopting healthy sanitary practices and ensuring immunization of children. As an effect, infants and
children have better survival rates, are healthier and better nourished. If these are attained, children

 Marry and have their own families at a later stage in life

 Practice family planning and have fewer children
 Know rights, responsibilities and civic obligations
 Seek employment and sustain personal and family needs
 Have decreased risk of getting sexually transmitted infections like HIV/AIDS
 Support and protection of developing and vulnerable countries during crises

3 Gender equality means equal representation of men and

women. It implies that all gender should have equal value and
treatment. Equal gender treatment empowers women and other
groups creating opportunities in education, work, finances, and
other aspects which improves the economy and lessen effects of
financial crises. Gender equality can be achieved through:

 Early childhood development intervention

 Promotion of women’s political rights and involvement
 Improved reproductive health programs and policies
 Education and integrating gender equality in school curriculum
 Improved women’s access to work and strengthened labor policies for women
 Support and protection of developing and vulnerable countries during crisis

4
Programs and policies which help reduce child mortality like
improving nutritional intake, healthcare facilities and
infrastructure, and other fields which improve children’s lives.
Strengthening local and national health programs and policies is
one way to reduce child mortality. This includes:

 Immunization programs
 Assuring the survival and better health of mothers
 Improving reproductive health programs and policies
 Better nutrition program for infants, children and mothers

5 Improved maternal health is not only about mother’s health but

also involves the health and wellness of the family. Maternal
health also helps eradicate other problems like poverty, gender
inequality, decreased workforce, lower birth deaths, and disability
of women. Some ways to improve maternal health include:
 Improved and proper nutrition of mothers
 Teaching the benefits of birth spacing and small family size
 Educating young boys and girls about the importance of maternal health
 Better and improved access to hospital care especially obstetrics-gynecology, prenatal
and postnatal care

6 Emerging and re-emerging diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, influenza

and other diseases affect productivity and growth of nations. Some of the
effects of disease outbreak are loss of jobs, shortage in professional workers,
and creating social crises. Children are the most vulnerable and are exposed
to exploitation and abuse undermining their normal growth and development.
Some ways to combat diseases include effective prevention, treatment and
care like:

 Improved housing conditions

 Increased access to anti-malarial medicines
 Promoting safer sex behavior and preventive education for all
 Promoting Tuberculosis (TB) screening of HIV/AIDS persons and
 TB - Directly Observed Treatment Short (TB-DOTS) Course therapy
 Promoting the use of insecticide-treated nets to fight mosquito-borne diseases

7 Investing and supporting sustainable energy like solar, wind and water
energy help support jobs, create business opportunities, and save remaining
non-renewable energy sources. Environmental sustainability assures peoples
to live healthier and enjoy a clean and green environment. Some of the
benefits of a sustainable environment are:

 Cleaner air and environment

 Clean, environment-friendly, and renewable energy
 New and aspiring jobs and business in energy
 Increased access to sanitation

8 The United Nations, World Health Organization, World Bank and

governments work together to make sure there is fair trade and that heavily
indebted countries obtain relief and funds to combat poverty, malnutrition
and funds for education and social projects. Some benefits of global
partnership are:

 Expanded international trade agreements

  Improved access to affordable medicine
 Reduced poverty through government debt relief grant
 Developed information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure
The 10 Global Health Trends, Issues and Concerns

1. Tuberculosis- commonly known as TB (Tubercle Bacillus, is a bacterial

infection that can spread through the lymph nodes and bloodstream to any organ
in your body. It is often most found in the lungs.

2. Drug use and abuse- it is patterned use of a drug in which the user consumes
the drug substance in amounts or with methods which are harmful to themselves
or others.

3. HIV/AIDS- it is transmitted primarily via unprotected sexual intercourse,

contaminated blood transfusions, hypodermic needles, and from mother to child
during pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding

4. Non-Communicable Disease (NCD)- can refer to chronic diseases which last

for long periods of time and progress slowly.

5. Communicable Disease- also known as infectious disease or

transmissible diseases. These are illness that result from the infection,
presence and growth of pathogenic biologic agents in human.
 6. Climate change- a change in global or regional climate patterns
attributed directly or indirectly to human activity.

7. Mental Health- it is a level of psychological well-being and the

absence of a mental disorder.

8. Immunization and Vaccines- it is the safe and effective use of a small

amount of a weakened and killed virus or bacteria or bits of lab made
protein that imitate the virus in order to prevent infection by the same virus
or bacteria.

9. Alcohol and Tobacco Abuse/Addiction- the excessive consumption of

alcohol and tobacco. Causes communicable and non-communicable
diseases.

10. Malaria/ Other Vector-Borne - causes symptoms that typically

include fever, fatigue, vomiting and headaches. In severe cases, it can cause
yellow skin, seizures, coma or death.
 What’s More
Activity 1: What If…?
Predict the global effects if the eight Millennium Development Goals were
achieved or not achieved. Copy the table below in your notebook or activity sheet and
write your predictions in the columns

Goal No. Millennium Development Goals What if this goal is What if this goal is
achieved? not achieved?

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

What I Can Do

Activity 1: Issues, Concerns, And Trends (Ict)

Write in each box the different health issues, concerns and trends encountered around the world. These issues,
concerns and trends may have not been mentioned in the readings but should also be addressed by international and
national communities. Add more boxes if needed.

Assessment
I. TRUE or FALSE

Write the word TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if it is not. Write you
answer on a separate sheet.

1. The term global health rose in popularity along with the rise of globalization.
2. Immunization and vaccines are not safe and effective to kill the virus and bacteria.
3. One of the benefits of globalization to the world is the development and improvement
of various health initiatives.
4. Education is one of the key suggestions to eradicate poverty and hunger.
5. Non-communicable disease is also known as infectious/transmissible diseases.