Towards a common definition of global health Koplan, Jeffrey P, Prof; Bond, T Christopher, PhD; Merson, Michael H, Prof ...
The Lancet (British edition),
06/2009, Letnik:
373, Številka:
9679
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
A steady evolution of philosophy, attitude, and practice has led to the increased use of the term global health. ... on the basis of this analysis, we offer the following definition: global health is ...an area for study, research, and practice that places a priority on improving health and achieving equity in health for all people worldwide.
Summary Infectious diseases remain the major causes of morbidity and mortality in China despite substantial progress in their control. China is a major contributor to the worldwide infectious disease ...burden because of its population size. The association of China with the rest of the world through travel and trade means that events in the country can affect distant populations. The ecological interaction of people with animals in China favours the emergence of new microbial threats. The public-health system has to be prepared to deal with the challenges of newly emerging infectious diseases and at the same time try to control existing diseases. To address the microbial threats, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome, the government has committed substantial resources to the implementation of new strategies, including the development of a real-time monitoring system as part of the infectious-disease surveillance. This strategy can serve as a model for worldwide surveillance and response to threats from infectious diseases.
Summary China has rapidly progressed through epidemiological and demographic transitions and is now confronting an increasing burden from non-communicable diseases and injuries. China could take ...advantage of what has been learnt about prevention and control of non-communicable diseases and injuries, which is well summarised in the WHO best buys (a set of affordable, feasible, and cost-effective intervention strategies in any resource setting), to improve individual and population health. Implementation of these strategies could allow China to exceed the incremental gains in decreasing non-communicable diseases and injury burdens of high-income countries, and greatly shorten the interval needed to achieve decreased morbidity and mortality in its population. With the lessons learnt from other countries and its own programmes and policies, China could provide a health model for the world.
Summary China has experienced an epidemiological transition shifting from the infectious to the chronic diseases in much shorter time than many other countries. The pace and spread of behavioural ...changes, including changing diets, decreased physical activity, high rates of male smoking, and other high risk behaviours, has accelerated to an unprecedented degree. As a result, the burden of chronic diseases, preventable morbidity and mortality, and associated health-care costs could now increase substantially. China already has 177 million adults with hypertension; furthermore, 303 million adults smoke, which is a third of the world's total number of smokers, and 530 million people in China are passively exposed to second-hand smoke. The prevalence of overweight people and obesity is increasing in Chinese adults and children, because of dietary changes and reduced physical activity. Emergence of chronic diseases presents special challenges for China's ongoing reform of health care, given the large numbers who require curative treatment and the narrow window of opportunity for timely prevention of disease.
PDF