Health Unit 4 AOS 2 - Promoting global health and human development questions and answers

The World Health Organisation

· The World Health Organisation (WHO) is a branch of the United Nations

· WHO works with governments and other agencies around the world to achieve better health for everyone, everywhere

Three main goals of WHO

1. Promote health: healthier populations - 6 billion people will enjoy healthier lives

2. Provide health: Universal health coverage - 5 billion people will benefit from universal health care without financial hardship.

3. Protect health: health emergencies - 7 billion people will be better protected from health emergencies

1. Promote health (Healthier populations) - objectives

1. Respond to climate change, which is an increasing health threat

2. Address health determinants and the main causes of ill health

2. Provide (universal health coverage) - objectives

1. Advance primary health care and essential health system capacities for universal health coverage

2. Improve health service coverage and financial protection to address inequity and gender inequalities

3. Protect health (health emergencies) - objectives

1. Prevent, mitigate and prepare for risks to health from all hazards

2. Rapidly detect and sustain an effective response to all health emergencies

Goal 1 Objective 1 - Respond to climate change

-This objective aims to build environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient health systems that can withstand extreme weather and disease threats

-Ensures services remain uninterrupted and effective during and after climate-related events.

Goal 1 Objective 2 - Address health determinants and the main causes of ill health

-Health outcomes are shaped by life conditions, so addressing barriers like inequality and discrimination is essential.

-Empowering people in health decisions and prioritising prevention and promotion can improve wellbeing, reduce costs, and support longer, healthier lives.

Goal 2 Objective 1 - Advanced primary healthcare and essential health system capacities for universal health coverage

-Everyone should have access to high-quality health services, supported by well-trained staff working in safe environments free from violence.

-Digital technologies should be used effectively and securely to monitor health, track risks, and improve service delivery.

Goal 2 Objective 2 - Improve health service coverage and financial protection to address inequity and gender inequalities

-The focus is on ensuring fair access to quality healthcare across all stages of life, including disease prevention, treatment, mental health, sexual and reproductive health, and nutrition.

-It also involves addressing gender-based violence, ensuring vaccine access, tackling antimicrobial resistance, and making healthcare affordable to prevent financial hardship.

Goal 3 Objective 1 - Prevent, mitigate and prepare for risks to health from all hazards

-Countries must strengthen systems to prevent, detect, and respond to epidemics by improving preparedness, biosafety, and public health measures

-As well as protect health workers and limit cross-border disease spread.

Goal 3 Objective 2: Rapidly detect and sustain an effective response to health emergencies

-The focus is on ensuring timely, equitable access to essential health and nutrition services during emergencies, supported by real-time coordination, with priority given to protecting the most vulnerable.

Humanitarian aid

-Is the immediate assistance given to people or countries in response to a crisis

-Designed to be short-term and is usually needed to keep people alive

-Addresses the immediate needs of affected communities but does not address the underlying causes of poverty

Examples of humanitarian aid

-Provision of food, water, medicines and shelter

-Providing personnel such as health workers, doctors or emergency workers from other countries or aid organisations

Types of aid

-Bilateral aid

-Multilateral aid

-Aid provided by non-government organisations

Bilateral Aid

-Bilateral aid is one government provides support directly to another government

-Donor country collaborates with the recipient government to ensure aid meets the country's needs, ranging from small projects (e.g., immunisation programs) to large infrastructure projects (e.g., water treatment plants, roads, schools).

Purpose of bilateral aid

-Reduce poverty

-Improve health

-Promote long-term sustainable development.

How bilateral aid promotes health outcomes

-The provision of schools enhances social health and wellbeing by fostering strong social connections among children

-The provision of hospitals and skilled healthcare workers improves access to quality healthcare, enabling diagnosis and treatment, increasing life expectancy

How bilateral aid promotes human development

-Reducing poverty means people can access food, clothing, and shelter helping to achieve a decent standard of living

-School and education helps children develop knowledge and enhance their choices and capabilities

Advantages of Bilateral Aid

-It can help to reduce poverty and ill health in receipt countries

-It can help to strengthen a relationship between two countries, which may promote regional security

Disadvantages of Bilateral aid

-Some governments are corrupt and money given to recipient countries may not be used for the purpose intended

-Goods and services given to a recipient country may be designed to boost the donor country's economy, rather than to assist the recipient country

Multilateral aid

Multilateral aid is when governments provide funding to multilateral organisations (e.g. World Bank or United Nations) which pool resources from multiple countries to support nations in need.

-This type of aid is often used to address global issues

Purpose of Multilateral aid

-Reduce poverty

-Achieve equity in health outcomes

-Promote long-term sustainable development

How multilateral aid promotes health outcomes

-Addressing global warming improve physical health and wellbeing by reducing the incidence of diseases such as asthma, malaria, malnutrition and diarrhoea.

-Improved agriculture and secure food suppliers reduce malnutrition and hunger, reducing U5MR

How multilateral promotes human development

-Greater access to food improves health, provides energy to work, and supports access to resources like food, water and shelter to achieve a decent standard of living

-Reducing disease transmission allows people to access knowledge and lead productive and creative lives

Example of bilateral aid

-Medical clinics funded by Australian bilateral aid in PNG

Example of multilateral aid

-Australia contributes money to the World Bank in order to help them do their work

Aid provided by non-government organisations (NGOs)

-Non-government organisations (NGOs) are non-profit groups that promote health and human development.

-NGOs operate independently of governments but often rely on government funding and public donations.

Examples of NGOs

-World Vision

-Red Cross

Purpose of NGOs

NGO aid typically focuses on smaller, community-based projects to meet basic health and wellbeing needs and promote community development and participation.

Features of NGOs

-Work in hard-to-reach areas: Can deliver aid in remote, fragile, and conflict-affected regions.

-Emergency expertise: Provide fast, flexible humanitarian assistance in crises.

-Community connections: Have established trust and strong local relationships.

-Poverty knowledge: Bring deep understanding of poverty and its causes at the community level.

Advantages of aid provided by NGOs

-Can often access areas that other forms of aid are unable to reach

-Often have strong connections with local communities which mean that trust is already established

Australia'd aid program

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) manages Australia's aid program

Aim of DFAT

The aim is to reduce poverty and promote a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, which is based on achieving sustainable development

Where Australia's aid is given

-Most of our aid is focuses on the Indo-Pacific area

How much aid Australia gives

-Cost-effective aid: Australia's aid is low-cost for Australians but highly beneficial for low- and middle-income countries.

-Supports development: Helps boost economic growth in poorer nations.

-Health impact: Contributed to disease reduction, improved child and maternal health, lowered under-five mortality, and reduced poverty.

Achievement of the SDGs through Australia's aid program

-Priority areas: Australia's aid targets climate change, health, WASH, education, social protection, and gender equality.

-Achievement of SDG's: DFAT's 2023 policy guides long-term aid toward achieving the SDGs, focusing on gender equality, climate change, and human rights.

Why does Australia partner with others to deliver aid?

The aims of Australia's aid program cannot be achieved by working alone - to achieve maximum effectiveness, Australia works with and delivers aid through a range of partnerships

Australia aid partnerships

1. Bilateral partnerships

2. Multilateral partnerships

3. Local communities or civil society

4. other government departments

5. Universities

6. Business

7. Non-government organisations

1. Bilateral partnerships

-Australia delivers aid and responds to disasters by collaborating with other countries' governments.

-Coordinating aid programs between countries enhances effectiveness, sustainability, and health and human development outcomes by pooling resources and expertise.

2. Multilateral partnerships

-Partnering with agencies like the UN or World Bank extends Australia's aid reach, enabling larger-scale projects than Australia could implement alone.

-Collaborating with the UN allows Australia to implement carefully targeted programs for both humanitarian aid and long-term development.

3. Local communities or civil society

-Local people can voice concerns and suggest solutions to government.

-Engaging communities ensures local needs are met, leaders are involved, and development is sustainable.

-Small-scale community groups include women and minorities, fill service gaps, and enhance effectiveness of aid

4. Other government departments

-The government works with other departments like ACIAR and the Australian Federal Police.

- They combines skills to address development, economic, security, and political needs in partner countries.

5. Universities

-DFAT collaborates with Australian universities to offer scholarships to students from low- and middle-income countries.

-Students gain knowledge and skills in Australia and return home to reduce poverty and support sustainable development.

6. Business

-Businesses contribute knowledge, ideas, skills, and resources to enhance Australia's aid effectiveness.

-Local businesses create jobs, services, and income in low- and middle-income countries.

-Partnering with the private sector supports business growth, prosperity, and poverty alleviation.

7. Non-government agencies

-NGOs extend Australia's aid reach, support sustainable growth, and help reduce poverty.

-They have trusted relationships with communities and can access remote or conflict-affected areas.

-NGOs bring detailed knowledge of poverty and development to aid programs.

Aim of effective aid

- Reduce poverty and inequality in low- and middle-income countries

- Promote human rights

- Move towards a more equal and stable global system

- Help achieve the SDGs

Features of effective aid

1. Ownership by the recipient country

2. Focused on achieving the right outcomes

3. Partnerships and collaboration

4. Monitoring and evaluation

1. Ownership by the recipient country - (recipient countries involved in deciding the type of aid that best meets theirs needs)

-Governments and communities are involved in the decision making process

-Meets the needs of the local community

-Considers local sociocultural and political factors

-Implemented in a socioculturally sensitive way

2. Focused on achieving the right outcomes

-Targets patterns of disease and illness that need to be addressed

-Focuses on education to build the knowledge and skills of the local community

-Focuses on women

-Aims to reduce poverty and inequality

3. Involves partnerships and collaboration

-Ensure community involvement and ownership

-Combines different strengths and expertise of all partners

-Resources are used effectively

4. Monitoring and evaluation

-Funding is used for its intended purpose

-Regular monitoring of results and progress against program aims

Taking individual action

-The personal choices and actions that we make as individuals can have an impact on society as a whole

Individual actions - things you can do from the couch

-If you see social media posts about gender equality or climate change you can share to others to raise awareness

-Drink tap water rather than bottle water

Individual actions - things you can do at home

-Dry your clothes outside rather than using a dryer

-Recycle paper, plastic, glass and aluminium to stop landfills from growing

Individual actions - things you can in the community

-Bike, walk or take public transport

-Donate clothes, books and furniture that you dont use to local charities

Individual actions - things you can do at work

-Encourage your workplace to use energy efficient hearting and cooling

-Speak up against any type of discrimination in the workplace

Social action

Social action is about using collective action to do something to help bring about positive change

How individuals can take social action

-Volunteer

-Donate money to NGOs

-Conduct fundraising events

-Sign petitions

-Develop awareness campaigns

-Purchase products that promote social change

-Lobby governments

-Organise a boycott

-Start a social enterprise activity

Social enterprises and purchasing power

· Social enterprises aim to raise awareness of the injustices in the world and use social action to make changes

· Examples of social enterprises, Who Gives a Crap, Fairtrade

what is Who Gives a Crap

-Who gives a crap is a social enterprise

-They began their enterprise in response to billions of people worldwide lacking access to toilets, and diarrhoea-related diseases fill hospital beds and kill many children under five in sub-Saharan Africa.

-They created a sustainable plan to sell environmentally friendly toilet paper to support/fund water and sanitation projects.

Impact of Who Gives a crap

-For every roll sold, 50% of profits go to WASH partners delivering projects in low-income countries.

-They have saved thousands of trees by using forest-friendly paper products.

-They have saved millions of litres of water by producing their products with eco-friendly materials.

What is Fairtrade

-Fairtrade is an organisation that uses purchasing power as social action to reduce poverty.

-Its goal is to support producers in low- and middle-income countries with fair trading conditions and sustainable farming.

-Current trade systems often disadvantage small farmers, leaving -them vulnerable to poverty.

-Fairtrade ensures small-scale farmers receive fair prices to address poverty.

Fairtrade products + impact

-Fairtrade certified products display the Fairtrade logo and are widely available in supermarkets and independent grocers.

-Buying these products helps reduce poverty and end child labour through everyday shopping choices.