8 human health challenges coming decades

The World Health Organization lists urgent global health issues in the next 10 years, such as climate change, infectious diseases .

The list, made on January 13, is based on information provided by health professionals around the world, emphasizing that all issues are urgent, related, and equal priority. The World Health Organization (WHO) also recognizes that leaders need to prioritize and invest more in health, and at the same time governments, communities and international agencies need to work together.

Climate crisis

The WHO cited the climate crisis as a "health crisis" , emphasizing that air pollution kills 7 million people each year.

Climate change also causes weather events to become more extreme, causing problems such as malnutrition, and spread of infectious diseases.

"Public and private sector leaders need to work together to clean the air and minimize the health impact of climate change," according to WHO.

WHO rates the climate crisis as "a health crisis".(Photo: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists).

Health care in the context of conflict, crisis

Health workers who become victims of violence in conflict areas are a worrying trend that will continue in 2019. In this year, WHO recorded 980 attacks on health workers in 11 countries. , 193 people were killed.

In 2018, when the Ebola epidemic hit the Congo, conflicts between militant groups and government forces made it difficult for health workers to reach epidemic areas.

"We need to come up with a political solution to address long-lasting conflicts, stop neglecting the weakest health systems, protect health workers and medical equipment from attacks," WHO said. Father.

Create equal access to health care

WHO also focuses on significant health disparities, including access to quality health care, based on income and other socioeconomic factors.

The organization emphasizes that the life gap between rich and poor countries is 18 years. Another challenge is that about 33% of the world's population lacks access to pharmaceuticals, vaccines, diagnostic tools and other health products.

"Limited access to health-care products that threaten human health and life," according to WHO. The organization calls on all nations to extract 1% of gross domestic product for primary health care, creating opportunities for many people to access health care near their home.

Preventing infectious diseases, preparing to cope with epidemics

WHO estimates that infectious diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis, viral hepatitis, and malaria will cause about 4 million deaths this year, most of them poor.

In order to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, WHO believes that there is a need for greater political will and increased funding for health services, routine vaccinations, quality improvement, available data and increased Strengthen efforts to minimize the impact of drug resistance.

WHO notes that the world pays more for coping with diseases, natural disasters and other emergency health situations, compared to preparedness and precautions. This needs to be changed.

Infectious diseases, including HIV, are estimated to cause 4 million deaths in 2020. (Image: Medical News Today).

Food and tobacco are not safe

Lack of food, unsafe agricultural products, unhealthy diets account for nearly 33% of the global burden of disease in the present time. Poverty, food insecurity exist alongside obesity, an unhealthy diet is a major challenge to global health.

"Tobacco use has decreased in some countries, but is increasing in most countries, as evidenced by the increasing health risks of e-cigarettes , " according to WHO.

The organization says it is working with countries, reshaping the food system, building political commitment and capacity to strengthen implementation of certain tobacco control policies.

Invest in health workers, teenagers

The world will need an additional 18 million health workers by 2030 in low- and middle-income countries - including 9 million nurses and midwives.

WHO says it is working with countries, encouraging new investment in "training of health workers and paying adequate salaries".

The world also needs to pay more attention to the safety of adolescents (10-19 years old). More than 1 million adolescents die each year, the main cause of which is accidental trauma, HIV, suicide, lower respiratory tract infections, violence.

WHO will issue new guidelines to decision makers who work in the health and education sectors to promote mental health for this age group, to prevent the use of drugs, alcohol, and alcohol. relatives and others.

The guide also provides young people how to prevent HIV and other infectious diseases, how to avoid pregnancy, how to take care of their health during pregnancy, and delivery.

WHO places young people on the list of people in need of health care and education.(Photo: UNICEF).

Vaccination and new technology

Public trust with doctors can influence the decision to follow recommendations around vaccinations, medications, and condom use, according to WHO.

The organization has worked with social media platforms such as Facebook, ensuring that users of social networking sites receive accurate, non-false health information.

New technologies, such as human gene editing, are also mentioned as a solution to prevent, diagnose and treat many diseases.

WHO is assisting countries in planning, adopting and benefiting from new technologies, supporting better regulation for the development and use of these technologies.

Drugs and clean medical equipment

WHO emphasizes that antibiotic resistance can reverse medical advances.

Antibiotic resistance refers to the ability to neutralize the effect of drugs of bacteria, viruses and some parasites. Of the multitude of factors, sometimes resistance can occur when antibiotics or some other drugs are used when they are not needed, enabling bacteria and other microorganisms to develop resistance.

WHO is working with international and national authorities to reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance and support research and development of new antibiotics.