Review The World Health Organization's Global Health Agency

Review The World Health Organizations Who Global Health Agenda And

Review The World Health Organizations Who Global Health Agenda And

Review the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global health agenda and select one global health issue to focus on for this assignment. Select at least one additional country to compare to the U.S. for this assignment. Reflect on how the global health issue you selected is approached in the U.S. and in the additional country you selected.

Part 1: Global Health Comparison Matrix

Focusing on the country you selected and the U.S., complete the Global Health Comparison Matrix. Be sure to address the following: Consider the U.S. national/federal health policies that have been adapted for the global health issue you selected from the WHO global health agenda. Compare these policies to the additional country you selected for study. Explain the strengths and weaknesses of each policy. Explain how the social determinants of health may impact the global health issue you selected. Be specific and provide examples. Using the WHO’s global health agenda as well as the results of your own research, analyze how each country’s government addresses cost, quality, and access to the global health issue selected. Explain how the health policy you selected might impact the health of the global population. Be specific and provide examples. Explain how the health policy you selected might impact the role of the nurse in each country. Explain how global health issues impact local healthcare organizations and policies in both countries. Be specific and provide examples.

Part 2: A Plan for Social Change

Reflect on the global health policy comparison and analysis you conducted in Part 1 of the assignment and the impact that global health issues may have on the world, the U.S., your community, as well as your practice as a nurse leader. In a 1-page response, create a plan for social change that incorporates a global perspective or lens into your local practice and role as a nurse leader. Explain how you would advocate for the incorporation of a global perspective or lens into your local practice and role as a nurse leader. Explain how the incorporation of a global perspective or lens might impact your local practice and role as a nurse leader. Explain how the incorporation of a global perspective or lens into your local practice as a nurse leader represents and contributes to social change. Be specific and provide examples.

Paper For Above instruction

The World Health Organization (WHO) plays a pivotal role in shaping global health priorities through its comprehensive agenda that emphasizes urgent health issues affecting populations worldwide. The WHO’s global health agenda aims to coordinate international efforts to improve health outcomes, reduce disparities, and address pressing issues such as infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, health equity, and environmental health. For this paper, the selected global health issue is tuberculosis (TB), a contagious bacterial infection that remains a significant public health challenge across the globe. Tuberculosis exemplifies how social determinants and policy approaches influence disease prevalence and management within different national contexts. A comparative analysis between the United States and India—representing a high-income and a middle-income country respectively—provides insights into policy effectiveness, social factors, and nursing roles in addressing TB.

In the United States, TB control has been primarily managed through policies such as the Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control Act, CDC guidelines, and the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association (NTCA) protocols. These policies focus on early detection through targeted screening, vaccination of high-risk groups, and ensuring treatment adherence via directly observed therapy (DOT). A strength of the U.S. policy is its advanced healthcare infrastructure and emphasis on individual rights and privacy, which facilitate effective case management. However, weaknesses include disparities in access among marginalized populations and the high cost of treatment. Social determinants such as poverty, homelessness, and immigration status significantly influence TB incidence and control efforts. For example, homeless populations tend to have higher rates of TB due to inadequate access to healthcare and crowded living conditions.

India’s approach to TB control is embodied in the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP), which aims to reduce TB prevalence through widespread screening and free treatment programs. Its strengths include mass coverage, community engagement, and government commitment driven by the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP). Challenges include limited resources, infrastructural deficiencies, and social stigma associated with TB, which hinder early detection and treatment adherence. Social determinants such as poor living conditions, malnutrition, and limited health literacy exacerbate the TB burden in India. Both countries address cost, quality, and access differently; the U.S. leverages advanced technology and strict standards but struggles with healthcare disparities, while India prioritizes mass programs and free treatment but faces resource limitations. Addressing social determinants is critical, as factors like poverty directly impact TB transmission and treatment outcomes. For instance, malnutrition weakens immunity, increasing susceptibility to TB.

The policies adopted in both countries directly impact the health of their populations. In the U.S., targeted policies help reduce TB transmission within high-risk groups but may overlook marginalized populations such as undocumented immigrants. In India, the widespread free treatment policy promotes access, but infrastructural challenges and social stigma can inhibit effective disease control. For nurses, these policies influence their roles in case management, patient education, and community outreach. U.S. nurses often work in multidisciplinary teams focusing on contact tracing and compliance monitoring, while in India, nurses play a vital role in community awareness and treatment supervision amidst resource constraints. Global health issues, like TB, also influence local healthcare organizations by guiding resource allocation, public health strategies, and infrastructural development. For example, in both countries, hospitals and clinics adapt their infection control protocols based on national and global guidelines, which directly impact patient outcomes.

Building upon this comparative analysis, a social change plan aims to integrate a global health lens into local nursing practice. As a nurse leader, advocating for policies that address social determinants such as poverty, housing, and education is crucial. Implementing community-based screening programs, collaborating with local organizations, and facilitating culturally competent care can help reduce TB disparities. Incorporating a global perspective also involves helping local healthcare providers understand international best practices and adapt strategies that account for social and environmental factors affecting health. For example, establishing partnerships with international organizations like WHO or CDC can enhance local screening and treatment initiatives.

This global perspective influences a nurse leader’s role in fostering social change by emphasizing health equity, resource advocacy, and cross-cultural awareness. It encourages policies that integrate social determinants into health planning, such as housing support for homeless TB patients or nutritional programs to boost immunity. By doing so, nurse leaders can help reduce health disparities and improve outcomes, thereby contributing to broader social change. Ultimately, integrating a global health perspective into local nursing practice fosters a holistic approach that recognizes interconnectedness between local conditions and worldwide health patterns, aligning with the ethical obligation of nurses to promote health justice and equity.

References

  • World Health Organization. (2023). Global Tuberculosis Report 2023. WHO. https://www.who.int/teams/global-tuberculosis-programme/reports
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Tuberculosis Data & Statistics. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/tb/statistics/default.htm
  • Government of India. (2022). National Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis Elimination 2017–2025. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
  • Stop TB Partnership. (2021). Global Plan to End TB 2018–2022. WHO.
  • Global Health Council. (2020). Social Determinants of Health and Infectious Diseases. GHC publications.
  • Frieden, T. R. (2019). Tuberculosis. In Goldman-Cecil Medicine (25th ed.). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-65941-4.00438-1
  • World Health Organization. (2021). Addressing Social Determinants of Health in Tuberculosis Interventions. WHO Publications.
  • Gandhi, N. R., & Shah, N. (2019). Tuberculosis and Social Determinants: A Global Perspective. International Journal of Tuberculosis & Lung Disease, 23(4), 341–347.
  • Rao, N., & Bhat, R. (2020). Healthcare Policy and Its Impact on Tuberculosis Management in India. Indian Journal of Public Health, 64(2), 123–128.
  • World Bank. (2022). Poverty and Health Inequalities in India. The World Bank Reports.

Related Assignments