scholarly journals Underrepresented groups in WaSH – the overlooked role of chemical toxicants in water and health

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 786-793 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua P. Kearns ◽  
Matthew J. Bentley ◽  
Poorva Mokashi ◽  
Jennifer H. Redmon ◽  
Keith Levine
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Organic Contaminants ◽  
Universal Access ◽  
Chemical Pollution ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Sanitation And Hygiene ◽  
Conference Presentations ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Poster Presentations

Abstract The anthropogenic release of chemicals from industry, agriculture and the breakdown of consumer wastes constitute a major threat to water resources and public health. Pollution is severe and increasing in the developing world where chemical substances are produced, used, and disposed of in an unregulated manner. The global public health consequences of chemical pollution are comparable to or greater than those of widespread infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. However, chemicals have so far been neglected by the WaSH sector. Here, we report the results of a systematic review of the Journal of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene for Development (2011–2018) and oral/poster presentations given at the UNC Water & Health Conference (2010–2018). The review enumerated studies that focused on water quality and treatment from a chemical perspective, highlighting in particular organic contaminants of emerging concern. Organic chemicals were addressed in only 2% of journal articles and fewer than 0.7% of conference presentations. Geogenic contaminants arsenic and fluoride were only addressed in 2–3% of articles and presentations. The review concludes that a rapid, major effort to address toxic chemicals in WaSH is necessary to meet UN Sustainable Development Goals for universal access to safe and affordable drinking water by 2030.

Where Is Disability in Global Public Health?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gloria Krahn
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Global South ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Persons With Disabilities ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Models Of Disability ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
The Individual

Accounting for about 15% of the world’s population, persons with disabilities constitute a critical population. Despite a substantial knowledge base in disability and public health, persons with disabilities have been remarkably invisible within general global public health. Public health’s view of disability is shifting from regarding disability only as an outcome to prevent, to using disability as a demographic characteristic that identifies a population experiencing a range of inequities. Alternative models of disability reflect how disability has been viewed over time. These models vary in their underlying values and assumptions, whether the locus of disability is the individual or the environment or their interaction, who designates “disability,” and the focus of intervention outcomes. The United Nations flagship report on Disability and Sustainable Development Goals, 2018 documents that, as a group, the lives of persons with disabilities are marked by large disparities in Sustainable Development Goal indicators. These include increased likelihood of experiencing poverty, hunger, poor health, and unemployment, and greater likelihood of encountering barriers to education and literacy, clean water and sanitation, energy, and information technology. Overall, persons with disabilities experience greater inequalities, and this is particularly experienced by women and girls with disabilities. The COVID-19 pandemic and other disasters have highlighted the gaps in equality and consequent vulnerability of this population. Global disability data have improved dramatically during the decade from 2010 to 2020 with the advent of standardized disability question sets (Washington Group) and model surveys (Model Disability Survey). New studies from the Global South and North identify areas and strategies for interventions that can effectively advance the Sustainable Development Goals. This call-to-action outlines strategies for increasing visibility and improving wellbeing of persons with disabilities, particularly in the Global South. Increased visibility of the disability population within the global public health community can be achieved through active engagement of persons with disabilities. Improved collection of disability data and routine analysis by disability status can provide information vital to planning and policies. A twin-track approach can provide direction for interventions—inclusion in mainstream programs where possible, use of disability-specific and rehabilitation approaches where necessary. The article ends by outlining ways that multiple roles can increase the inclusion of persons with disabilities in global public health.

Investing in Health Wisely: The Role of Needs-based Technology Assessment

1995 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 673-684 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dean T. Jamison ◽  
Helen Saxenian ◽  
Yves Bergevin
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Technology Assessment ◽  
Universal Access ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Disability Adjusted Life ◽  
Life Years ◽  
National Public Health ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Improve Health

AbstractCountries worldwide spend huge sums on health—about $1,700 billion a year, or roughly 8% of global income. But the World Development Report 1993: Investing in Health shows that these monies could be spent much more wisely, in the process doing a great deal to help the world's 1 billion poor. Essential national public health and clinical packages are proposed based on assessment of the burden of disease (measured in disability adjusted life years) and the cost-effectiveness of interventions. Governments can play a central role in improving the health of their citizens: they can foster an environment that enables households to improve health and they can also improve their own spending on health, targeting it to support universal access to essential national public health and clinical packages based on the above methods. This is a good example of the concept of needs-based technology assessment, combining the disciplines of epidemiology, economics, and policy formulation. When applied, it should lead to improved effectiveness, efficiency, and equity.

scholarly journals COVID-19 as an “Infodemic” in Public Health: Critical Role of the Social Media

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debanjan Banerjee ◽  
K. S. Meena
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Digital Platforms ◽  
The Impact

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has emerged as a significant and global public health crisis. Besides the rising number of cases and fatalities, the outbreak has also affected economies, employment and policies alike. As billions are being isolated at their homes to contain the infection, the uncertainty gives rise to mass hysteria and panic. Amidst this, there has been a hidden epidemic of “information” that makes COVID-19 stand out as a “digital infodemic” from the earlier outbreaks. Repeated and detailed content about the virus, geographical statistics, and multiple sources of information can all lead to chronic stress and confusion at times of crisis. Added to this is the plethora of misinformation, rumor and conspiracy theories circulating every day. With increased digitalization, media penetration has increased with a more significant number of people aiding in the “information pollution.” In this article, we glance at the unique evolution of COVID-19 as an “infodemic” in the hands of social media and the impact it had on its spread and public reaction. We then look at the ways forward in which the role of social media (as well as other digital platforms) can be integrated into social and public health, for a better symbiosis, “digital balance” and pandemic preparedness for the ongoing crisis and the future.

scholarly journals Vitamin D and COVID-19 infection; recent findings

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. e19-e19
Author(s):  
Alireza Pouramini ◽  
Fatemeh Kafi ◽  
Shakiba Hassanzadeh
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Chronic Conditions ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Exact Role ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Global Public Health Problem

COVID-19 infection increases the risk of death in patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes or obesity. The exact role of vitamin D in COVID-19 infection is unknown and controversial. Furthermore, the exact prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is still unknown but it affects individuals worldwide regardless of ethnicity and age. Herein, we give an overview of vitamin D deficiency as a global public health problem, the role of vitamin D in COVID-19 infection, and the proper approach to treating vitamin D deficiency.

scholarly journals Emphasizing the Role of Neurosurgery Within Global Health and National Health Systems: A Call to Action

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Wilguens Lartigue ◽  
Olaoluwa Ezekiel Dada ◽  
Makinah Haq ◽  
Sarah Rapaport ◽  
Lorraine Arabang Sebopelo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Global Health ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Global Burden ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Disability Adjusted Life ◽  
Life Years ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Global Burden Of Diseases

Background: Worldwide, neurological disorders are the leading cause of disability-adjusted life years lost and the second leading cause of death. Despite global health capacity-building efforts, each year, 22.6 million individuals worldwide require neurosurgeon's care due to diseases such as traumatic brain injury and hydrocephalus, and 13.8 million of these individuals require surgery. It is clear that neurosurgical care is indispensable in both national and international public health discussions. This study highlights the role neurosurgeons can play in supporting the global health agenda, national surgical plans, and health strengthening systems (HSS) interventions.Methods: Guided by a literature review, the authors discuss key topics such as the global burden of neurosurgical diseases, the current state of neurosurgical care around the world and the inherent benefits of strong neurosurgical capability for health systems.Results: Neurosurgical diseases make up an important part of the global burden of diseases. Many neurosurgeons possess the sustained passion, resilience, and leadership needed to advocate for improved neurosurgical care worldwide. Neurosurgical care has been linked to 14 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), thus highlighting the tremendous impact neurosurgeons can have upon HSS initiatives.Conclusion: We recommend policymakers and global health actors to: (i) increase the involvement of neurosurgeons within the global health dialogue; (ii) involve neurosurgeons in the national surgical system strengthening process; (iii) integrate neurosurgical care within the global surgery movement; and (iv) promote the training and education of neurosurgeons, especially those residing in Low-and middle-income countries, in the field of global public health.

Pandemic, Infodemic and Peoples Resilience - Experience from India (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shabbir Syed Abdul ◽  
Meghna Ramaswamy ◽  
Luis Fernandez-Luque ◽  
Oommen John ◽  
Thejkiran Pitti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Solidarity ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Medical Supplies ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Delivery Vehicles ◽  
Occupancy Rates ◽  
Indian Cities ◽  
Bed Occupancy Rates

UNSTRUCTURED The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), commonly known as COVID-19 is causing widespread fear and stress. In India alone, there were more than 410,000 new cases and 4,000 deaths reported as of 6th May 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone, everywhere, and created systemic inequities leaving no one behind. People from lower and middle socio-economic classes are among the worst affected, thus exacerbating populations into extreme poverty. In many Indian cities, hospital bed occupancy rates cross over 200%. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. The critical shortages of beds, medical supplies, and equipment such as oxygen cylinders for patient care have led to a state of public health emergency and have led to a surge in patients being treated in ambulances and delivery vehicles. The dire snapshot of the COVID-19 crisis in India reflects underinvestment in both its healthcare and public health system. In addition, misinformation circulating in social media is driving panic at a pace and scale never imagined before. Nevertheless, the citizen groups and civil society in India contended this issue through the spirit of social solidarity and creativity by developing digital communications measures through social networking platforms to interconnect and overcome the COVID-19 crisis. Through this article, we propose the pivotal role of digital solutions and public participation to reestablish our society and describe how the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can support eHealth initiatives, and mitigate infodemics.

Oxford Textbook of Global Public Health

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Health Policies ◽  
Health Determinants ◽  
Health Improvement ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Public Health Policies ◽  
Law And Ethics ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
Development Goals

This opening volume of the Oxford Textbook of Global Public Health showcases the breadth of public health in terms of the range of topics that are covered and the number of disciplines on which public health now draws. The scope of public health has continued to evolve and a strong public health base will be a key to meeting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals that relate to both the need for health improvement and for a reduction in inequalities in health. The contributions in this volume provide an introduction to the development of public health as a discipline in countries at different stages of development and give a detailed overview of areas of critical importance. It covers this over three sections: the development of the discipline of public health, determinants of health and disease, and public health policies, law, and ethics.

scholarly journals Limited services? The role of shared sanitation in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 349-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Evans ◽  
Andrés Hueso ◽  
Richard Johnston ◽  
Guy Norman ◽  
Eddy Pérez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Universal Access ◽  
Viable Option ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Sanitation Services ◽  
2030 Agenda ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Limited Service

Target 6.2 of the Sustainable Development Goals calls for universal access to sanitation by 2030. The associated indicator is the population using ‘safely managed’ sanitation services. Shared sanitation is classified as a ‘limited’ sanitation service and some donors and governments are reluctant to invest in it, as it will not count towards achieving Target 6.2. This could result in poor citizens in dense slums being left out of any sanitation improvements, while efforts are diverted towards better-off areas where achieving ‘safely managed’ sanitation is easier. There are sound reasons for labelling shared sanitation as ‘limited’ service, the most important being that it is extremely difficult – for global monitoring purposes – to differentiate between shared toilets that are hygienic, accessible and safe, and the more common ones which are poorly designed and managed. There is no reason to stop investing in shared sanitation. ‘Safely managed’ represents a standard countries should aspire to. However, the 2030 Agenda and the human rights recognise the need for intermediate steps and for reducing inequalities. This calls for prioritising investments in high-quality shared toilets in dense informal settlements where it is the only viable option (short of rehousing) for improving sanitation services.

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