If there’s anything the previous two years have made evident, it’s inevitably the public health still has a long way to go. Before the pandemic outbreak in 2019, many assumed that public health wouldn’t have much further to go, given the gains we had already made. However, although the healthcare sector has come an incredibly long way, we still have many more challenges to overcome.
Many existing problems need our full attention to improve the standard of life for millions globally. Additionally, as the world around us changes, many new issues will continue to crop up. It then forces us to face a particularly cruel paradox – as we have increasingly complex technological systems, our problems seem to grow more complicated too.
Challenges of Public Health Practices
However, while various issues come under this banner, below, we’ll discuss some of the most pressing issues and challenges of public health practices.
1HIV and AIDS
Of the various public health issues we face, HIV and AIDS are the most pressing issues. HIV can spread in multiple ways, from dirty needles or contact with the blood or semen, or breast milk of an infected person. AIDS is then an umbrella term for the various diseases which can occur after one gets the virus.
What makes this syndrome particularly challenging to tackle is the immense stigma surrounding the topic. Some various myths and stereotypes make it hard for people to seek help. Even people in developed parts of the world might find themselves socially ostracized if their diagnosis goes public. Tackling AIDS is then more about educating the public and helping curb practices that spread the virus.
Public health officials are perfectly equipped for this job and can work with the most vulnerable groups to prevent the spread. A public health degree is easy to complete online. It allows you to understand the various socio-economic factors that contribute to public health. With an mph online, you can not only prevent the spread but help people living with HIV lead a fuller life.
2Antibiotic-resistant diseases
Ever since penicillin was discovered, we’ve embarked on a path that lets us treat diseases quickly and dramatically increase the lifespan of many globally. As the healthcare sector has evolved, we’ve developed complex antibiotics that let us tackle a range of diseases. However, in recent years the dangers of antibiotic overuse are becoming apparent. Various conditions have evolved and developed resistance to medication.
Antibiotic-resistant diseases now include influenza, pneumonia, gonorrhea, and tuberculosis. Some of these diseases can now pose a life-threatening risk again, which can be incredibly detrimental to public health. Furthermore, antibiotic-resistant infections can make surgeries and other medical procedures much more complicated.
3Increased cost
There’s no doubt that the healthcare sector today has improved immensely from what it used to be. Machinery and advanced medications allow us to treat or deal with illnesses in a previously unfathomable way. However, these improvements haven’t come without a very literal cost. For many people, healthcare is now increasingly inaccessible just because of how expensive it is. Even simple procedures can lead to bills in the thousands, and health insurance only covers so much.
This increased cost has led to many people shying away from seeking help. The issue is easily one of the most pressing ones we face today, as it has a monumental impact on public health. Most people let their health issues escalate to a dangerous degree just because they can’t seek help. Furthermore, diseases are much likelier to spread in lower socio-economic groups, making their position incredibly vulnerable. Without subsidized programs, it can become impossible to tackle this issue and provide healthcare for all.
4Nutritional issues
One of today’s most important healthcare issues is the increasing prevalence of obesity in all facets of society. However, we have more nutritional options available than ever before. Fast food, candies, and sodas may be delicious, but they offer little actual nutrition. It has led to an increased incidence of obesity, diabetes, and cardiac diseases in many populations.
Healthy eating seems to get a lot of flak, but it doesn’t have to be as bad as it’s made out to be. For the most part, it involves cutting back on processed foods, sugar, and empty calories. Furthermore, if you incorporate a wide range of food groups in your diet, you can lead a more active, healthy, fulfilling life.
Conclusion
There is a range of public health issues and challenges that needs addressing to improve the lives of millions globally. Many healthcare workers are doing their best to ensure that healthcare improves and is accessible to every person in society. We can overcome these issues and move on to the next chapter in public health by working together.
