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.
Review and download the Global Health Comparison Matrix provided in the Resources.
The Assignment: (1- to 2-page Global Health Comparison Matrix; 1-page Plan for Social Change)
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 Organization’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
Solution
WHO Global Health Issue
Student’s Name:
Institution Affiliation:
Course Number and Title:
Instructor’s Name:
Health refers to a condition of emotional, physical, and mental well-being. According to World Health Organization (2020), health refers to being completely well in all aspects, physically, mentally, and socially, as opposed to a mere absence of disease or infirmity. Citizens of each member state are guaranteed the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of heal as part of the fundamental rights of every human being without discrimination based on race, religion, political belief, social or economic condition. The global health agenda combines two pivotal actions spheres of the recent time: managing interdependence and globalization and addressing the increasing inequalities within and between nations through the development of strategies. The strategies are synthesized by developing policies that act as action points. The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed and implemented policies targeting equitable access to health care globally, forming bases for the WHO global health agenda. This essay analyzes Covid-19as, a global issue, by comparing policies and strategies developed in the United States of America and Uganda. In addition, the last section covers the creation of a plan for social change.
Global Health Comparison Grid Template
Use this document to complete the Module 6 Assessment Global Healthcare Comparison Matrix and Narrative Statement
| Global Healthcare Issue | Covid-19 | |
| Description | Covid-19 is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2; the virus can spread in small liquid particles from an infected person’s mouth or nose when they cough, sneeze, speak, sing, or breathe (WHO 2021). | |
| Country | United States | Uganda |
| Describe the policy in each country related to the identified healthcare issue | Advance Child Tax Credit and Economic Impact Payments/American Rescue plan of 2021. | National Corona Virus Disease (Covid-19) Preparedness and Response Plan |
| What are the strengths of this policy? | An avenue to cushion vulnerable groups from the adverse effects of the virus. This was implemented in three trenches. The first batch was $1,200 in April 2020 and the second in December 2020/January 2021 of $600. Lastly, $1400 in March 2021. | First, the policy outlines actions to be undertaken in three phases while using the case of a different scenario. Henceforth, there is the best-case, most likely, and worst-case scenario. The latter occurs when the country experiences multiple cases of novel coronavirus are identified. Lastly, the policy focused around eight critical Covid-19 response pillars, namely; Leadership, stewardship, coordination, and oversight; case management; continuity of essential services; strategic information, research, and innovation; community engagement and social protection; surveillance and laboratory; risk communication and social mobilization and logistics and operations. |
| What are the weaknesses of this policy? | The proposal falls short of addressing health inequality as only insured Americans receive the stipend. In 14 states, vulnerable adults have not yet received medical insurance owed to the current cap that does not extend to all working-age adults with incomes up to $17,609 (The Commonwealth Fund 2021). This is based on the assertion that their income is below the eligibility threshold for marketspace assistance which starts at $12,760. Moreover, the Black and Americans originating from Southern states cannot afford health insurance because of poverty. | The enforcement of Covid-19 protocols has been harshly extended to the infringement of human rights. This has been characterized by the use of excessive force by the police, creating negative perception of the Government by the public (The Conversation, 2021). |
| Explain how the social determinants of health may impact the specified global health issue. (Be specific and provide examples) | Access to health insurance cover contributes to the affordability of medical services. Members of the upper class in society easily afford health insurance, widening the gap between the rich and poor. | Access to reliable information plays a pivotal role in curbing the spread of the virus. The spread of false information may lead to the massive spread of the virus. |
| How has each country’s Government addressed cost, quality, and access to the selected global health issue? | The United States of America introduced a stimulus package distributing funds to vulnerable households. Quality healthcare was primarily achieved by ensuring access to vaccines targeting mass vaccination of citizens spearheaded in conjunction with the national guard. | Uganda received a financial boost of $300 million from the World Bank to support the economy post-covid-19 (The World Bank, 2020). This saw the government support farmers by providing high-quality agricultural inputs, seeds, and fertilizers that trickled to boost food security and nutrition. |
| How has the identified health policy impacted the health of the global population? (Be specific and provide examples) | As of 1st to 30th May 2020 United States recorded a total of 781,000 deaths representing a 95% prediction level. Notably, 5% of the predicted deaths were averted, 116,800 to 127,000 (Weinberger, 2020) | Statistics obtained on 24th January 2022 indicate Uganda recorded 3,483 deaths from the virus. Compared to Uganda’s neighbors, this is amongst the lowest number of deaths, which was averted through the strategic responses (Wordometer, 2022). |
| Describe the potential impact of the identified health policy on the role of nurse in each country. | The role of the nurse dwells on service provision ensuring patients access equitable and quality services. This should be guaranteed and coupled with free from discrimination based on race, ethnicity, and religion. | The role of the nurse dwells on service provision ensuring patients access equitable and quality services. This should be guaranteed and coupled with free from discrimination based on race, ethnicity, and religion. |
| Explain how global health issues impact both countries’ local healthcare organizations and policies. (Be specific and provide examples) | Universal policies that precisely address human resource gaps impact a country’s health sector. The standard doctor characterizes this to patient ratio that should be upheld. Unfortunately, most of the virus victims were healthcare professionals, subsequently decreasing the doctor-patient ratio. | The doctor-patient ratio in most African countries, especially Uganda, is low. World Health Organization on global agenda defines the need for member states to improve their human capital in hospitals. |
| General Notes/Comments | Indeed, novel coronavirus had a devastating effect on society’s social, political, and environmental fabric. The post-Covid era should address health inequality to attain optimal health care for all. | Primary health care is a right and should be provided at an affordable rate. The Government should invest in research that would inform the policy-making process. |
Part II
Social change entails addressing the existing gaps through generating solutions to problems. Health inequality takes center stage when a fraction of the society fails to access health care services based on socially constructed barriers. Addressing these barriers is linked to championing accountability in society. Through accountability, sound policies would be drafted to ensure equality and equity in the access of health care in society. This section provides a roadmap on achieving health equality during the post-Covid period. The objectives include enhancing public knowledge of democratic governance to bolster accountability, encouraging the dissemination of valid information, and building a network of peer educators in the community.
The youths and women are often disenfranchised regarding the public participation process. This roadmap seeks to enhance knowledge of democratic governance through civic education conducted through civic space while leveraging social media platforms. This would create a robust generation that would act as change agents of society by demanding accountability from leaders. Dissemination of factual information as a core aspect of curbing the virus’s spread, tackling myths and misconceptions associated with the novel coronavirus. This would be aided by harnessing reliable data from health practitioners who constitute the front liners in the fight against Covid-19. Community involvement would be galvanized through training of active members in the community, thereby factoring peer to peer learning with the trainees reaching out to community members in remote areas.
References
WHO (2021) Constitution. Available at: https://www.who.int/about/governance/constitution#:~:text=World%20Health%20Assembly%20%C2%BB&text=Health%20is%20a%20state%20of,absence%20of%20disease%20or%20infirmity. Retrieved on 24th January 2022
The Commonwealth Fund (2021). The American Rescue Plan Does Not Provide Relief to Nation’s Poorest, Uninsured Americans. Available at: https://www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2021/american-rescue-plan-does-not-provide-relief-nations-poorest-uninsured-americans Retrieved on 24th January 2022.
The Conversation (2021). What Uganda has got wrong-and right-in its struggle to contain Covid-19. Available at: https://theconversation.com/what-uganda-has-got-wrong-and-right-in-its-struggle-to-contain-covid-19-163826 Retrieved on 24th January 2022
The World Bank (2020). Uganda: World Bank Provides $300 Million to Close Covid-19 Financing Gap and Support Economy Recover. Available at: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2020/06/29/uganda-world-bank-provides-300-million-to-close-covid-19-financing-gap-and-support-economy-recover Retrieved on 24th January 2022.
Weinberger, D. M., Chen, J., Cohen, T., Crawford, F. W., Mostashari, F., Olson, D., & Viboud, C. L. (2020). Estimation of excess deaths associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, March to May 2020. JAMA Intern Med. 2020.
Wordometer (2022) Uganda. Available at: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/uganda/. Retrieved on 24th January 2022.