PREVENTING DISEASE
Noncommunicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, dementia and cancer, accounted for seven of the world’s top 10 causes of death in 2019, according to the World Health Organization. Each year, more than 15 million people aged 30 to 69 die prematurely as a result of noncommunicable diseases, with 85% of those premature deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
Despite a global decline in the percentage of deaths due to communicable diseases, they remain a challenge, primarily in low- and middle-income countries. Although the world is on the brink of eradicating polio, communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and malaria are still leading causes of death in these countries with reports of decreasing or plateauing progress.
And according to the WHO, 1 billion people suffer from neglected tropical illnesses, such as dengue fever, Chagas’ disease, sleeping sickness, and river blindness.
TIPS FOR SUCCESS
1 Consult with Rotary members who have medical or public health expertise to assistin developing your project idea.
2 Communicate with local and regional hospitals, clinics, universities, and ministries of health to avoid duplicating efforts and to take advantage of local resources.
3 Enlist community health care workers and other health and medical volunteers to support project development and implementation.
4 Partner with successful community-based organizations to strengthen their capacity and expand existing services.
HEALTH CARE SERVICES
Less than half of the global population has access to essential health services, according to the United Nations. Major disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, and high-conflict situations could reverse decades of improvement in preventing both communicable and noncommunicable diseases by decreasing access to health care professionals, facilities, and other services. More than 40% of all countries have fewer than 10 medical doctors per 10,000 people, and more than 55% of countries have fewer than 40 nurses and midwives per 10,000 people. An additional 18 million health workers are needed, primarily in developing countries.
TIPS FOR SUCCESS
1 Work with local, regional, district, and national health systems to increase people’s accessto equipment, facilities, and the latest health care programs.
2 Incorporate innovative technologies and tools to extend the reach of health centers.
3 Work with local health centers to develop programs that attract health workers with a variety of skills.
4 Work with local universities, nursing schools, and other health care training facilities to provide education in locations where employees live, in order to maximize retention rates.