People living in poverty face dreadful difficulties in their everyday lives. Not are they deprived of an education, and basic nutritional resources, they also lack access to health care services. In this publication, we learn how poverty and ill-health are intertwined, and how this overall condition of poverty causes poor health. The author includes a list of programs that have been used to reduce mortality rates caused by insufficient health services in different countries, showing how global “dominant thinking” initiatives have proved successful. He also includes an explanation of future challenges and goals regarding health care, and discusses resource scarcity, insurance and proper financing of healthcare.
Chilundo, Baltazar. “The Link Between Development and Health Care in Low Income Countries: Dominant Thinking, Status and Future Challenges” Universitas Osloensis. 12 Dec 2004. 25 June 2009. http://folk.uio.no/chilubal/Unipub/trial.pdf (Recommended pages: 8-9, 12-13, 17-22, and 25-28).
World Health Organization Assesses the World’s Health Systems
The population affected most by the failures in health systems is the poor, who are driven deeper into poverty by lack of financial protection against ill-health. Additionally, the poor are frequently treated with less respect, given less choice of service providers and are offered lower-quality amenities. This article assesses the health systems of the world, focusing on five indicators of a good health care system: level of population health, health inequalities of access, responsiveness by the system, responsiveness within the population, and distribution of the health system’s financial burden. Using these, the article analyzes countries’ health care situations and reports on the failures of many health systems.
World Health Organization. “World Health Organization Assesses the World’s Health Systems”. World Health Organization. 20 July 2009. http://www.who.int/whr/2000/media_centre/press_release/en/index.html
Health Care and Poverty Reduction as the Starting Point for the Happiness of Mankind
In this speech, the former president of the Republic of Korea, Dr. Kim Dae-Jung, thanks the World Health Organization for providing his country with great aid in the creation of a solid health system which led to its development. While doing so, he addresses many issues related to poverty and health care, and the effects it can have on a nation. He highlights how children sometimes suffer the most and how this indicates “vanishing dreams” in a country. In addition, he says disease among people results in a loss in the labor force, and poor people are generally faced with unsanitary conditions that incite disease. Poverty can also force children into the labor force and deprives them of an opportunity for education. Disease stands in the way of the efforts of the people of developing countries trying to overcome poverty and poverty accelerates the spread of disease, which aggravates poverty. The president calls this a “vicious cycle.” Dr. Jung stresses the importance of health and poverty reform and hopes to advance in reaching this goal.
Dr. Kim Dae-Jung. “Health care and poverty reduction as the starting point for the happiness of mankind” (Speech) May 18, 2004. World Health Organization. 3 July 2009. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/2004/wha57/kimdaejung/en/index.html