Effective Policies for Global Health Improvement
This resource explores policies aimed at addressing health-related causes of undernutrition, promoting low-cost health solutions for the poor, and subsidizing maternal and child health services. It includes case studies on water supply issues and public health initiatives around the world.
Effective Policies for Global Health Improvement
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Presentation Transcript
Policies Aimed at Health-related Causes of Undernutrition Text extracted from: The World Food Problem Leathers & Foster, 2004 http://www.lastfirst.net/images/product/R004548.jpg
Director General of World Health Organization, 1989 • “ If we could increase the health spending in the developing countries by only $2 per head, • we could immunize all their children, • eradicate polio, and provide the drugs to cure all their causes of diarrheal disease, • acute respiratory infection, tuberculosis, malaria, schistosomiasis • and sexually transmitted diseases.” http://www.who.sk/obr/nakajima.jpg Hiroshi Nakajima
Policies promoting low cost health for the poor • Good health promotes good nutrition • Good nutrition promotes good health • Cheaper to maintain good health • Than to try to cure sick people • Low cost health for poor • Barefoot doctors in China • Nutrition huts in Philppines • Health huts in Haiti http://www.chinatoday.com.cn/English/20021/1960nian.htm Barefoot Doctors, China
U.S. Public Health Policies • 1840s: modern sewage systems • 1900s: Drinking water • 1923: Salt fortified • Iodine • 1940: Flour fortified • Iron • Thiamin • Riboflavin • Niacin http://www.ames.lib.ia.us/farwell/publication/Pub6940.htm Marston Water Tower, 1897
Subsidizing Maternal and Child Health Services • 1974: less than 5% children in developing world immunized against • Measles • Tetanus • Diphtheria • Pertussis • Tuberculosis • Polio • Today: 80% immunized due to government policies • Ex: World Health Organization • 36 million infants/yr not immunized http://maconareaonline.com/news.asp?id=14271
Maternal and Child Health Centers • Immunization • Including hepatitis B, yellow fever • Vitamin distribution • Vitamin A pills cost 5 cents to make • Monitor Child Development • Oral Rehydration Therapy • Promote Breast Feeding • Nutrition Education • Family Planning http://www.new-agri.co.uk/image/043/dev01b.jpg Maternal Health Center, Malawi
Problems with Baby Formula • Water supply contaminated with human excrement • Household hygiene poor • Flies • Feces • No refrigerator • Wood stove, little fuel • No equipment to clean bottle • Uneducated mother • No knowledge of germs http://www.emag.uni-bremen.de/emag/2004/projects/wterprob/my%20home.html
Public Water Case Study • Port-au-Prince, Haiti, 1976 • 50% of municipal water supply leaked out • Few shut off valves • Little incentive to conserve • Direct service to 150,000 relatively wealthy • 400,000 poor supposed to use 27 public stand pipes http://www.paho.org/English/DPI/100/100feature25_photos.htm Public Water Pump, Port-au-Prince
Public Water Case Study • Extreme water scarcity solutions: • 40,000 people relied on leaks in pipes • 95,000 more wealthy people shared with neighbors • 300,000 bought water through private vendors http://www.ehponline.org/docs/1994/102-12/focus1.html Port-au-Prince
Public Water Case Study • Private Water Market • Tanker trucks • Filled up free at hydrants • 2,000 connected households • sold water to neighbors • 14,000 people were mobile vendors • Bought water from connected households • Delivered to customers • 2 cents a bucket http://www.wehaitians.com/haitian%20suffering.html Port-au-Prince
Public Water Case Study • Private Water Market • Customers paid out $3.8 million/year • Municipal Water Authority earned $650,000/yr • Family of 5 would pay $4/month for 11 litres/day • 40% of families earned $20/month or less • Poorest purchased water only for drinking • Bathed in surface runoff http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/exhibitions/geographical/fossez.asp Port-au-Prince