Lesson 3 Health Trends, Issues, and Concerns

(Global Level)

Topics

Existing Global Health Initiatives

– 2030 Sustainable Development

• Discuss the significance of global
Goals (SDGs)
health initiatives
– WHO Framework Convention on
• Describe how global health initiatives Tobacco Control
positively impact people’s health in – Global Mental Health Action
various countries Plan
– Global Strategy To Reduce the
• Analyze issues in the implementation
Harmful Use of Alcohol
of global health initiatives
– Global Alliance for Vaccines and
• Recommend ways of adopting global Immunizations
health initiatives to local or national
contexts

You have learned in the second quarter the importance of knowing the health
programs in your community. In this quarter, you will study some of the global health
trends and issues as they affect your community, family, and even your personal
health concerns.
Try completing this Knowledge Rating Scale. This checklist will guide you in
identifying the areas which have to be learned more. Put a check (3) mark under the
column of your answer.
Knowledge Rating Scale
Topics Know the Know It a No Idea
Topic Well Little at All
Enough

1. Extreme poverty resulting to poor health

2. The dangers of smoking

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3. Depression

4. Alcoholism and health

What are the existing global health initiatives?

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
What are the SDGs?
SDGs or Sustainable Development Goals
are set and adopted by countries around the
world on the 25th of September in 2015. The
main objectives are to end poverty, protect the
planet, and ensure prosperity for all members of
humankind. This lesson will include some of the
sustainable development goals that are directly
related to health issues.
1. No Poverty

Goal: End poverty in all its forms everywhere.

Some Facts on Poverty
• 836 million people still live in extreme
poverty
• About one in five persons in
developing regions lives on less than
$1.25 or about 70 Philippine pesos per day
• The overwhelming majority of people living on less than $1.25 or
about 70 Philippine pesos a day belong to two regions: Southern Asia
and sub-Saharan Africa
• High poverty rates are often found in small, fragile, and conflict-
affected countries

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 • One in four children under age five in the world has inadequate
height for his or her age
Source: http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/poverty

Poverty is recognized to be present when there is hunger and malnutrition

in families. Because of poverty, many Filipinos have limited access to education
and basic services like water, electricity, and medical services.
It has been acknowledged that rampant poverty in the Philippines is
due to the following: low economic growth, high population growth, a weak
agricultural sector, and the regular presence of natural disasters. Lately, it has
also been considered that the presence of graft and corruption in government
offices contributes to the problem of poverty in our country.
It has been well-known also that poverty is more widespread in the rural
areas of the Philippines. In big cities, however, like in Metro Manila or Metro
Cebu, the problem of poverty is also becoming a threat.
Recently, the government initiated economic and livelihood programs that
could spark economic growth in our country. It also created ways to provide
sustainable jobs and promote equality.

2. Zero Hunger
Goal: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote
sustainable agriculture.

Some Facts About Hunger

• Globally, one in nine people in the world
today (795 million) is undernourished.
• The vast majority of the world’s hungry
people live in developing countries, where
12.9% of the population is undernourished.
• The percentage in Southern Asia has fallen in recent years but in
Western Asia it has increased slightly.

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 • Southern Asia faces the greatest hunger burden, with about 281
million undernourished people. In sub-Saharan Africa, projections
for the 2014–2016 period indicate a rate of undernourishment of
almost 23%.
• Poor nutrition causes nearly half (45%) of deaths in children under
five—3.1 million children each year.
• One in every four children in the world suffers from stunted growth.
In developing countries, the proportion can rise to one in three.
• 66 million primary school-aged children across the developing world
attend classes with empty stomachs, with 23 million in Africa alone.

Source: http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/hunger/

It was revealed in a survey (Family Income and Expenditure Survey, 2012)

that one in every ten Filipino families does not have the capacity to feed
themselves. They are considered as “food-poor” or “food-hungry.” This means
that they do not eat enough to be able to meet the energy and nutrients
needed by their bodies.
In 2015, the Global Hunger Index (GHI) reported that the Philippines is
faced with a “serious” level of hunger.
It is undeniable that there is this big challenge in our time to rethink and
improve how food is grown, shared, and consumed. The food and agriculture
sector in communities should think of solutions to lessen if not eradicate the
problem of hunger. Nutritious food could be made available by means of
rural development programs. People in the rural areas should be supported in
various economic programs to encourage them to stay in their communities
and not migrate to cities and urban areas.

3. Good Health and Well-being

Goal: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages
To sustain global development, the health and well-being of all members
of the global community should be ensured and promoted. Common killers

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 associated with child and maternal mortality should be reduced. Cases of
malaria, tuberculosis, polio, and the spread of HIV/AIDS should also be lessened.
Moreover, access to clean water and knowledge on good sanitation should be
increased.

Some Facts Related to Good Health

and Well-being of Children and Mothers
Child Health
• 17,000 fewer children die each
day than in 1990, but more than 6
million children still die before their
fifth birthday each year.
• Since 2000, measles vaccines have
averted nearly 15.6 million deaths.
• Children born into poverty are almost twice as likely to die
before the age of five as those from wealthier families.
• Children of educated mothers—even mothers with only
primary schooling—are more likely to survive than children of
mothers with no education.
Maternal Health
• Maternal mortality has fallen by almost 50% since 1990.
• In Eastern Asia, Northern Africa and Southern Asia, maternal
mortality has declined by around two-thirds but maternal
mortality ratio in developing regions is still 14 times higher than
in the developed regions.
• More women are now receiving antenatal care. In developing
regions, antenatal care increased from 65% in 1990 to 83% in
2012.
• Only half of women in developing regions receive the
recommended amount of health care they need.
• Fewer teens are having children in most developing regions,
but progress has slowed. The large increase in contraceptive
use in the 1990s was not matched in the 2000s.

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 • The need for family planning is slowly being met for more
women, but demand is increasing at a rapid pace.
Some Facts Related to HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and Other Diseases
• At the end of 2014, there were 13.6 million people accessing
antiretroviral therapy.
• New HIV infections in 2013 were estimated at 2.1 million, which
was 38% lower than in 2001.
• At the end of 2013, there were an estimated 35 million people
living with HIV and 240,000 children were newly infected with
HIV.
• New HIV infections among children have declined by 58% since
2001.
• HIV is the leading cause of death for women of reproductive age
worldwide.
• TB-related deaths in people living with HIV have fallen by 36%
since 2004.
• There were 250,000 new HIV infections among adolescents in
2013, two-thirds of which were among adolescent girls.
• AIDS is now the leading cause of death among adolescents (aged
10–19) in Africa and the second most common cause of death
among adolescents globally.
• As of 2013, 2.1 million adolescents were living with HIV.
• Over 6.2 million malaria deaths have been averted between 2000
and 2015, primarily of children under five years of age in sub-
Saharan Africa. The global malaria incidence rate has fallen by an
estimated 37% and the mortality rates by 58%.
• Between 2000 and 2013, tuberculosis prevention, diagnosis, and
treatment interventions saved an estimated 37 million lives. The
tuberculosis mortality rate fell by 45% and the prevalence rate by
41% between 1990 and 2013.
Source: http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/health/

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4. Clean Water and Sanitation
Goal: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all
Everybody needs clean water for survival. As part of sustainable
development, the basic need of clean water should be made accessible for all.
There is enough fresh water on the planet in which we live. However, many
people die from diseases that are caused by unclean water or poor water
supply. These problems on poor quality of water negatively impact the health
conditions of many people all over the world especially from developing
countries. The problem of drought or shortage of water supply afflicts the
people from the poorest countries. It complicates hunger and malnutrition
problems.

Some Facts on Clean Water and Sanitation

• 2.6 billion people have gained access to
improved drinking water sources since
1990, but 663 million people are still
without.
• At least 1.8 billion people globally use a
source of drinking water that is fecally contaminated.
• Between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of the global population
using an improved drinking water source has increased from 76%
to 91%.
• But water scarcity affects more than 40% of the global population
and is projected to rise. Over 1.7 billion people are currently living
in river basins where water use exceeds recharge.
• 2.4 billion people lack access to basic sanitation services, such as
toilets or latrines.
• More than 80% of wastewater resulting from human activities is
discharged into rivers or sea without any pollution removal.
• Each day, nearly 1,000 children die due to preventable water and
sanitation-related diarrheal diseases.

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 • Hydropower is the most important and widely-used renewable
source of energy and as of 2011, represented 16% of total electricity
production worldwide.
• Approximately 70% of all water abstracted from rivers, lakes, and
aquifers is used for irrigation.
• Floods and other water-related disasters account for 70% of all
deaths related to natural disasters.
Source: http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/water-and-sanitation/

5. Sustainable Cities and Communities

Goal: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
In the Philippines, people move from the rural areas to the key cities in the
regions to find work. Young people go to the cities to study, find a job later on,
and probably, stay there for good. The many work opportunities found in big
cities have allowed people to improve their social and economic conditions.
However, there are many problems that arise when many people are
congested in big cities like in Metro Manila. Congestion results to inadequate
lands for housing, poverty, and pollution.
The challenges in having sustainable cities include having programs that
could provide equal access to food, basic services, housing, transportation, and
energy.

Some Facts on Cities and Communities

• Half of humanity—3.5 billion people—
lives in cities today.
• By 2030, almost 60% of the world’s
population will live in urban areas.
• 95% of urban expansion in the next
decades will take place in developing
world.

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 • 828 million people live in slums today and the number keeps rising.
• The world’s cities occupy just 3% of Earth’s land, but account for
60%–80% of energy consumption and 75% of carbon emissions.
• Rapid urbanization is exerting pressure on freshwater supplies,
sewage, the living environment, and public health.
• But the high density of cities can bring efficiency gains and
technological innovation while reducing resource and energy
consumption.
Source: http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/cities

6. Responsible Consumption and Production

Goal: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
To see to it that production of food, water, and energy are sustained,
programs are planned to promote food, water, and energy resources.
Implementation of these programs will help in reducing poverty. People will
have access to basic services that provide better quality of life.

Facts on Consumption and Production

• Each year, an estimated one-third
of all food produced—equivalent
to 1.3 billion tons worth around
$1 trillion—ends up rotting in the
bins of consumers and retailers, or
spoiling due to poor transportation
and harvesting practices.
• If people worldwide switched to energy-efficient light bulbs, the
world would save US$120 billion annually.
• Should the global population reach 9.6 billion by 2050, the
equivalent of almost three planets could be required to provide the
natural resources needed to sustain current lifestyles.

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Water
• Less than 3% of the world’s water is fresh (drinkable), of which 2.5%
is frozen in the Antarctica, Arctic, and glaciers. Humanity must
therefore rely on 0.5% for all of man’s ecosystems and freshwater
needs.
• Man is polluting water faster than nature can recycle and purify
water in rivers and lakes.
• More than 1 billion people still do not have access to fresh water.
• Excessive use of water contributes to the global water stress.
• Water is free from nature but the infrastructure needed to deliver it
is expensive.
Energy
• Despite technological advances that have promoted energy
efficiency gains, energy use in OECD countries will continue to
grow another 35% by 2020. Commercial and residential energy use
is the second most rapidly growing area of global energy use after
transport.
• In 2002, the motor vehicle stock in OECD countries was 550 million
vehicles (75% of which were personal cars). A 32% increase in
vehicle ownership is expected by 2020. At the same time, motor
vehicle kilometers are projected to increase by 40% and global air
travel is projected to triple in the same period.
• Households consume 29% of global energy and consequently
contribute to 21% of resultant CO2 emissions.
• One-fifth of the world’s final energy consumption in 2013 was from
renewables.
Food
• While substantial environmental impacts from food occur in the
production phase (agriculture, food processing), households
influence these impacts through their dietary choices and habits.

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 This consequently affects the environment through food-related
energy consumption and waste generation.
• 1.3 billion tons of food is wasted every year while almost 1 billion
people go undernourished and another 1 billion hungry.
• Overconsumption of food is detrimental to our health and the
environment.
• 2 billion people globally are overweight or obese.
• Land degradation, declining soil fertility, unsustainable water use,
overfishing, and marine environment degradation are all lessening
the ability of the natural resource base to supply food.
• The food sector accounts for around 30% of the world’s total energy
consumption and accounts for around 22% of total greenhouse
gas emissions.
Source: http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-consumption-production/

7. Life Below Water

Goal: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources.
The world’s oceans as an essential global resource need to be managed
carefully. This is because the oceans provide us with fishes and other marine
products that are part of our dietary needs. Aside from food, the seas also
provide and regulate the weather, climate, rainwater, coastlines, and even the
oxygen in the air we breathe.

Some Facts Related to the Oceans

• Oceans cover three quarters of Earth’s
surface, contain 97% of Earth’s water,
and represent 99% of the living space
on the planet by volume.
• Over three billion people depend on
marine and coastal biodiversity for
their livelihoods.

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 • Globally, the market value of marine and coastal resources and
industries is estimated at $3 trillion per year or about 5% of global
GDP.
• Oceans contain nearly 200,000 identified species, but actual
numbers may lie in the millions.
• Oceans absorb about 30% of carbon dioxide produced by humans,
buffering the impacts of global warming.
• Oceans serve as the world’s largest source of protein, with more
than 3 billion people depending on the oceans as their primary
source of protein.
• Marine fisheries directly or indirectly employ over 200 million
people.
• Subsidies for fishing are contributing to the rapid depletion of many
fish species and are preventing efforts to save and restore global
fisheries and related jobs, causing ocean fisheries to generate US$
50 billion less per year than they could.
• As much as 40% of the world oceans are heavily affected by human
activities, including pollution, depleted fisheries, and loss of coastal
habitats.
Source: http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/oceans/

8. Life on Land
Goal: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse
land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss.
Forests provide not just the materials we need in making houses but
also some of the staple food that our body needs. However, the problems
of deforestations and land degradation destroy our forests. Forests need to
be saved and protected because they support healthy ecosystems. Healthy
ecosystems help keep people healthy.

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 Some Facts about Life on Land
Forests
• Around 1.6 billion people depend on
forests for their livelihood. This includes
some 70 million indigenous people.
• Forests are home to more than 80% of all
terrestrial species of animals, plants, and
insects.
Desertification
• 2.6 billion people depend directly on agriculture, but 52% of the
land used for agriculture is moderately or severely affected by soil
degradation.
• As of 2008, land degradation affected 1.5 billion people globally.
• Arable land loss is estimated at 30 to 35 times the historical rate.
• Due to drought and desertification each year 12 million hectares are
lost (23 hectares per minute), where 20 million tons of grain could
have been grown.
• 74% of the poor are directly affected by land degradation globally.
Biodiversity
• Of the 8,300 animal breeds known, 8% are extinct and 22% are at risk
of extinction.
• Of over 80,000 tree species, less than 1% have been studied for
potential use.
• Fish provide 20% of animal protein to about 3 billion people. Only
10 species provide about 30% of marine capture fisheries and 10
species provide about 50% of aquaculture production.
• Over 80% of the human diet is provided by plants. Only three cereal
crop—rice, maize, and wheat—provide 60% of energy intake.
• As many as 80% of people living in rural areas in developing countries
rely on traditional plant-based medicines for basic to provide their
basic healthcare.

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 Healthcare
• Microorganisms and invertebrates are key to ecosystem services, but
their contributions are still poorly known and rarely acknowledged.
Source: http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/biodiversity

Sustainable Development Goals

This self-assessment activity will give you the opportunity to reflect and assess
on your own learning about the sustainable development goals of the United
Nations.
3 things I learned today about the sustainable development goals.
2 things I found interesting about the sustainable development goals.
1 question I still have about the sustainable development goals.

1. World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

(WHO FCTC)
What? The FCTC (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control)
is the world’s first modern-day global public health
treaty about the effects of tobacco consumption. It is
negotiated under the World Health Organization.

Why? The treaty is aimed to set universal standards and limit in

the use of tobacco in all forms all throughout the world.
This is to protect the current and future generations of
people from the negative effects of tobacco to health, to
the environment, and to society in general.

How? The proposed specific steps by the FCTC for the

government to solve tobacco-related problems are:
• Adopt tax and price measures to reduce tobacco
consumption.
• Ban tobacco advertisement, promotion, and
sponsorship.

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 • Create smoke-free work and public spaces.
• Put prominent health warnings on tobacco packages.
• Combat illicit trade in tobacco products.

Source: http://www.fctc.org

Did you know that...

there are several proclamations or official declarations made by the President

of our country which are health-related.
• Proclamation No. 6 – UN’s Goal of Universal Child Immunization; involves
NGOs in the immunization program
• Proclamation No. 118 – Professional Regulation Week is June 16 to 22
• Proclamation No. 499 – National AIDS Awareness Day
• Proclamation No. 539 – Nurse’s Week – Every third week of October
• Proclamation No. 1275 – Declaring the third week of October every year
as “Midwifery Week”

2. Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol

What? This is a program led by the World Health Organization to save people’s lives
from the dangerous effects of alcohol use.

Why? There is an increased incidence of health problems related to the use of

alcohol. It is reported that alcohol kills 2.5 million people every year, including
those between 15 and 29 years of age. Alcohol is considered as the third
leading risk factor for poor health all over the world.

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 How? The global strategy will be implemented by
engaging all countries who participate in
the treaty, the international development
partners, public and private health and research
institutions.
The four priority areas for global action are:
1. Public health advocacy and partnership;
2. Technical support and capacity building;
3. Production and dissemination of knowledge;
and
4. Resource mobilization.

What are the 10 areas for national action?

According to the World Health Organization
(WHO), here are the 10 areas for national action to
reduce harmful use of alcohol:
1. Leadership, awareness, and commitment
2. Health services’ response
3. Community action
4. Anti-drunk driving policies and countermeasures
5. Availability of alcohol
6. Marketing of alcoholic beverages
7. Pricing policies
8. Reducing the negative consequences of drinking and alcohol intoxication
9. Reducing the public health impact of illicit alcohol and informally produced
alcohol
10. Monitoring and surveillance
Source: http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/activities/gsrhua/en/

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 Tobacco Use and Alcohol Control
Prepare a learning log about your reflections on the laws of tobacco use
and alcohol control.
My Learning Log

1. What did I learn about the law on tobacco use?

_______________________________________________________
2. What did I find interesting about this lesson?
_______________________________________________________
3. What did I learn about the law on alcohol control?
_______________________________________________________
4. What questions do I have about the laws on tobacco use and alcohol
control?
_______________________________________________________
5. What was the point of today’s lesson?
_______________________________________________________

3. Global Mental Health Action Plan

What is the Global Mental Health Action Plan (GMHAP)?
This is a plan led by the World Health Organization (WHO) to develop
mental health services. There were 135 countries that helped in the making
of a framework which would be the basis for each country in developing their
mental health services. It also includes the support of having a mental health
program in each community in a country. It also considers other aspects like
livelihood and education as a way to provide people good mental health
conditions.

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What are the objectives of the Global Health Mental Action Plan?
The WHO presents the following objectives to develop mental health services:
1. Strengthen
effective
leadership and
governance for
mental health
2. Provide
comprehensive,
integrated,
and responsive
mental health
and social care services in community-based settings
3. Implement strategies for the promotion of mental health and the
prevention of mental health problems
4. Strengthen information systems, evidence, and research for mental health
Source: http://www.who.int/mental_health/action_plan_2013/en/.org/who

Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations

What? GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization) is a global health
partnership which is aimed at universal immunization. From both the public
and private sector organizations, the group, now called GAVI Alliance, aims
to save children’s lives and protect people’s lives by increasing access to
immunization in poor countries.

Why? GAVI Alliance would like to ensure that new

vaccines are available to poor countries at an
affordable rate. In addition, it would like to ensure
that the vaccines are made available in a shorter
period of time; and that each country is equipped
to deliver them to the people.

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 Global Health Trends, Issues, and Concerns
Complete the table below. This self-assessment activity will give you the
opportunity to reflect and assess on your own learning about global health trends,
issues, and concerns.

3 Things I learned about this lesson are the following:

1. _______________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________________

2 Things I found interesting about these global initiatives are:

1. _______________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________

1 Question I still have about this lesson is:

_________________________________________________________

Activities for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Activity 1: Thinking about the Causes
Write some of the causes of the following health concerns:

Extreme Poverty and Hunger Death of Children

1. ______________________ 1. ______________________
2. ______________________ 2. ______________________
3. ______________________ 3. ______________________

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Activity 2: Let’s Discuss
Students will engage in a classroom debate where they will argue on how to
eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. Students will be divided into two groups.
Each group will stay on each side of the room; the center of the room will serve
as the speaking space.
Activity 3: 21st-century Skills: Critical Thinking, Communications,
Collaboration, Information Literacy, Media Literacy
In groups of five, choose a particular Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). Make
a thorough research on its objectives and strategies for effective implementation.
Prepare a multimedia presentation of your research. Include historical photos,
graphic design, video, music, and sound effects. Cite video clips downloaded from
the Web. Share this with your classmates or through your social media page.

Activities for WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

and Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol

Activity 4: Completing a Graphic Organizer

Fill in the Venn diagram to show the similarities and differences of the following:

WHO Framework Global Strategy

Convention To Reduce the
on Tobacco Control Harmful Use of Alcohol

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 Activity for Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations

Activity 5: Cause and Effect Chart

Write the probable causes for the creation of the Global Alliance for Vaccines
and Immunizations and the effects if the guidelines are ignored.

Global Alliance for Vaccines Effects If They Will Be Ignored

and Immunizations
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________

Global Mental Health Action Plan

Activity 6: Differentiated Activities

Choose any one of the roles you would like to do and perform the given task.

Role Task

Research on local and national laws that address the mental health of
Researcher
the members of your community.
Write an article about the good effects of the implementation of a
Writer
particular health-related law.
Make a drawing of what you see in your community that is
Artist representative or symbolic of the result of implementing a particular
health law.
Take or collect interesting pictures that are related to a mental health
Photographer
law which is controversial or popular in your community.

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 Activity for All Health-related Laws in the International Level

Activity 7: Problem-Solution Chart

Engage in a problem-solving activity. Reflect on a problem that is commonly
experienced in your community. Suggest a solution which is based on the health-
related laws.

Who

ò
What: _________________________________________________
Problem
Why: _________________________________________________

ò
Think of a health-related law that can help solve the problem.

Solutions Results
Solutions/ 1. ______________________ 1. ______________________
Results
2. ______________________ 2. ______________________

ò
____________________________________________________
End Results
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________

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 Deepen your understanding on the global health trends, issues, and concerns
by reflecting on the answers you have for the following questions:
1. Each year, the number of children in small and underdeveloped countries
who die before reaching the age of 5 is increasing. What do you think are
the reasons for this problem?
2. What would it be like to go to school hungry? What do you think are the
reasons why some children go to school with an empty stomach?
3. Why are there many women who do not survive after giving birth?
4. Why is there a growing number of people who contacted HIV and AIDS?
5. How could overconsumption of food be bad for one’s health and the
environment?
6. What should be done to prevent the death of almost a thousand children
every day due to diarrhea-related diseases caused by poor sanitation?
7. Why is it not good to live in crowded places like big cities?
8. In what way could taking care of the seas and the forests affect our health
positively?
9. What are the benefits that one could get in being aware of global health
issues and trends?
10. How can local communities benefit from international or global initiatives?

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