Advantages and Disadvantages of globalization
Globalization refers to the integration of values, beliefs, ideologies, technologies, and precepts of all kinds for global implementation, which means doing things in a way that goes beyond human divides. Thus, in undertaking such a concept, there would be experienced advantages and disadvantages as well. The main advantages of globalization include; market diffusion amongst economies, diversified ideas, culture and language exchange, unifying moral values, reduced social tensions, and increased human sensitivity and reaction to plights such as diseases and terrorism. Globalization also comes with disadvantages as follows; a threat to local and national economies as big economies impose themselves on smaller ones, the imposition of foreign ideologies, culture, religion, and language contamination as various social settings come together, and neo-colonialism and neo-imperialism. In addition, there are health risks that people are exposed to when people, goods, and ideas are exchanged amongst nations. This paper discusses interweaves concepts and ideas that relate to global health.
Relation between globalization and global health
Global health as a term has gained prominence in parallel with globalization as the increased awareness of shared vulnerabilities and shared responsibility for inequalities that bedevil the globe as a whole. As globalization renders the world borderless, the free movement of persons, goods, and ideologies creates new challenges to global health. Nations that have high incomes perceive low and middle-income nations as possible threats to health as the populations of the low and middle-income countries migrate to the high-economy nations. They fear diseases such as HIV-AIDS, TB, and plagues, among other serious contemporary diseases. In low-income nations, populations fear health effects caused by the free movement of goods such as tobacco and fast foods to their markets which might affect the health of their populace. Globalization has also precipitated global warming which poses a threat to global health.
On the other hand, there are positive responses to globalization as many professionals within the health sector across borders undertake relevant and modern researches that are aimed at finding cures and vaccines for human diseases. Further, resources from various bodies, countries, and global organizations such as the WHO have helped low-income countries reduce disease outbreaks and epidemics. Further, globalization of the transport system can be seen as both a positive and negative aspect since it has led to a quick spread of diseases and on the other hand, it facilitates quick transportation of sick individuals to the relevant healthcare system for example in another country. In addition, globalization has facilitated a combination of efforts to enact policies that are good for human health globally.
Change of concept of global health and relationship
Global health as a term has undergone various term changes and this has been its evolution in perspective as well. Perhaps the predominant definition of it is referring to it as health issues matters which transcend borders of countries and governments and summon global forces concerned with the determination of the health of persons to act. On its own, this points out that global health right now is considered as studies and research aiming at the enhancement of health and its equity for everyone worldwide and combined international research and actions for the promotion of health for everyone. Previously, global health was referred to as Tropical medicine which pointed to a number of nations or organizations coming together to achieve a certain health concern. Then in came international health which meant that it was a concern for just UN agencies and international bodies. The shift in health concerns all over the world has demanded global responses and certainly, health is at the heart of every world agency, government, and organization. Global health thus goes beyond national boundaries, encompasses the world’s populations, and moved beyond official organizations and government to include private-public partnerships (PPPs) which come together to fight health concerns. The relationship that has fascinated me is between international health and global health as it points to increased concern to fight the human plights. The testimony of global health is a declaration of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which seeks to advocate for healthy lives and the well-being of all humans at all stages. The relationship which surprised me most was the tropical medicine existence which was before civilization as the basis for primary health care (PHC).