The World Health Organization (WHO) has set various global health targets over the years. These targets focus on various issues, including reducing child mortality rates, increasing access to essential medicines and vaccines, and improving mental health care. Achieving these goals will require the cooperation of governments, healthcare providers, and individual citizens worldwide. This blog post will discuss three global health targets and explain what needs to be done to achieve them.
Reduce Child Mortality Rates
One of the WHO’s global health targets is to reduce the number of deaths among children under the age of five by at least half. All children must have access to basic healthcare and vaccinations to achieve this. Additionally, efforts must be made to improve nutrition and sanitation conditions in developing countries.
Child mortality rates have been falling in recent years, but there is still much work. According to the WHO, approximately five million children under the age of five die from preventable causes. The majority of these deaths occur in developing countries, where access to healthcare and clean water is limited. Therefore, the need for disease elimination is also critical.
Increase Access To Essential Medicines And Vaccines
Another global health target is to increase access to essential medicines and vaccines. This includes ensuring that all people have access to basic medical care and that life-saving vaccinations are available to everyone.
According to the WHO, approximately two billion people do not have access to essential medicines. This lack of access can lead to preventable deaths and the spread of disease. Additionally, vaccinations are one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of deadly diseases. However, vaccination rates are low in many parts of the world, particularly in developing countries.
One way to increase access to essential medicines and vaccines is by providing financial assistance to developing countries. This would enable them to purchase the necessary supplies and provide medical care to their citizens. Additionally, developed countries can provide technical assistance to help developing countries build the capacity to produce their own medicines and vaccines.
Improve Mental Health Care
According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 720 million people worldwide suffer from mental disorders. Unfortunately, mental health care is often overlooked and underfunded, but it is a crucial part of any society. There are many different ways to improve mental health care, but one key way is to increase access to services.
In many countries, people with mental disorders are discriminated against and stigmatized. This can make it difficult for them to get the help they need. One way to address this is to create awareness campaigns that destigmatize mental illness and make it easier for people to seek help.
Another way to increase access to mental health care is to train more mental health professionals. In many parts of the world, there is a shortage of mental health professionals, which makes it difficult for people to get the care they require. By training more mental health professionals, we can ensure that people have access to the care they require.
In conclusion, the WHO’s global health targets are ambitious but achievable. Reducing child mortality rates, increasing access to essential medicines and vaccines, and improving mental health care are all critical goals that we must work together to achieve. With the cooperation of governments, healthcare providers, and individual citizens worldwide, we can make these goals a reality.
Photo by Mikhail Nilov
