International Health Issues

Primary health care is delivered through local health workers, including physicians, nurses, midwives, auxiliaries, community workers and where applicable traditional health practitioners. It promotes maximum community and individual self reliance and participation in the planning, organisation, operation and control of health systems.

Communicable diseases still kill over 17 million people each year. New challenges such as HIV and a resurgence of other communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria and newly emerging infections such as strains of hepatitis represent a significant threat to the health of people in developing countries. Approximately half of infectious disease mortality can be attributed to just three of the above diseases - HIV, TB and malaria. These three diseases cause over 300 million illnesses and more than 5 million deaths each year. None of these diseases has an effective vaccine to prevent infection in children and adults. Many of these conditions can be prevented by effective public health education campaigns, or treated with cost-effective health interventions such as, immunisation, micronutrient supplementation and improved water supply and sanitation.

In developing countries, women and children suffer a disproportionate share of the burden of disease. Systematic discrimination, poverty, inaccessibility of services and the generally poor quality of services contribute to this state of affairs. Yet women play a pivotal role in the health of their children, their family and the community as a whole. Burnet Institute gives particular priority to programs aimed at improving the health of women and children. In addition to basic health care programs, Burnet Institute also provides assistance in the area of reproductive health care.

An epidemiological transition is occurring in many developing countries. The pattern of disease is changing from one where infectious diseases predominate to one where non-communicable diseases are the major causes of death and disability. According to the World Health Organisation, by the year 2020, non-communicable diseases such as cancer, heart disease and mental illness will make up 60% of the disease burden in developing countries. Urbanisation, rapid industrial development and aging populations associated with increases in life expectancy account for much of this change.

National policy development and health sector reform is crucial to long-term development. It provides the framework and ultimately the personnel for effective primary health care service delivery. The focus on national policy development and health sector reform helps to promote partnerships and capacity building in developing countries.