7. International Health
Definition: International health, also called geographic medicine or global health, is a field of health care, usually with a public health emphasis, dealing with health across regional or national boundaries. One subset of international medicine, travel medicine, prepares travelers with immunizations, prophylactic medications, and preventive techniques such as bednets and residual pesticides, in-transit care, and post-travel care for exotic illnesses. However, it also often refers to health personnel or organizations from one area or nation providing direct health care, or health sector development, in another area or nation.
History:
A cholera epidemic that took 20,000 lives in Egypt in 1947 and 1948 helped spur the international community to action. The set up of WHO was important milestone for the development of international health. One of the greatest accomplishments of the international health community was the eradication of smallpox in 1977.
Mission:
To implement study, research and practice that places a priority on improving health and achieving equity in health for all people worldwide
Some major agency concerning on international health:
1）World Health Organization (WHO),； 2）UNICEF,；
3）World Food Program (WFP) 4）World Bank, etc.
Disciplinary perspectives on international health:
International health is a research field at the intersection of medical and social science disciplines--including demography, economics, epidemiology, political economy and sociology. From different disciplinary perspectives, it focuses on determinants and distribution of health in international contexts.
Index utilized to measure international health：
1）Life Expectancy；2）Disability Adjusted Life Years；
3）Quality Adjusted Life Years；4）Infant and Child Mortality； 5）Morbidity Measures
Interests of international health research:
1) Surgical Disease Burden; 2) Respiratory Diseases and Measles;
3) Diarrhoeal Diseases; 4)Nutrition and Micronutrient Deficiency;
5) Chronic disease; 6) Health interventions;
7) AIDS, malaria, pandemic/avian flu, and tuberculosis
