WHO: 10 health dangers in 2019

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The World Health Organization warns about ten aspects that threaten the health of the world during the year

According to a recent report published by the WHO, there are ten serious threats that put the health of world citizens at risk.

Thus, the organization has designed a short-term plan (5 years) to overcome the possibilities that endanger the well-being of the world population, especially 1600 million people, 22% of the total, who live in conditions of vulnerability.

Leer en español: OMS: 10 amenazas para la salud en 2019

These measures include extending access to health, emergency care and improving the medical service of the nations.

Below we list the 10 health threats, organized from the riskiest ones:

1. Environmental pollution and climate change

The WHO highlights as the greatest risk, the condition of planet earth, since according to its own data, 9 out of 10 people breathe contaminated air, causing the death of about seven million people in the world. Respiratory and cardiovascular diseases are some consequences of pollution.

The organization foresees that there will be an additional 250,000 deaths each year between 2030 and 2050. Other diseases such as malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea and heat stroke are related to climate change and will increase if the change in temperatures in the world does not stop.

2. Chronic diseases

15 million people in the world between the ages of 30 and 69 die prematurely from chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases. A total of 40 million deaths in the world population due to these diseases, which represents more than 70% of deaths in the world.

The increase of 85% in countries with low levels of development is due, in general, to the adoption of unhealthy habits and air pollution.

3. Pandemic of influenza

It is predicted that the world will suffer from another pandemic, even without knowing when and how serious. Despite the fact that the warning protocols of many governments are considered inefficient, WHO is constantly monitoring the possible emergence of some type of influenza strain that may represent a risk.

4. Vulnerable environments

The quality of life can be deteriorated in the world because of unhealthy environments. The WHO estimates that close to 1.6 billion people live in conditions of poverty in places predisposed to long droughts, famines, and wars.

5. Resistance to antimicrobials

Resistance to antipathogens will complicate the treatment of diseases such as gonorrhea, salmonellosis, pneumonia, among others. For example, tuberculosis, which kills 1.6 million people a year, according to the organization, will increase.

WHO is working on the development of new ways to cure infections by bacteria and viruses, however, announces alert to regulate the excessive use of the same antimicrobials and avoid generation to resistance.

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6. Ebola and other dangerous pathogens

It is evident that diseases caused by infection are more frequent in areas of conflict and difficult to access, with the experience of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2018, where one million people died due to Ebola in the middle of an armed conflict that does not allow the arrival of healthcare aid to remote areas.

7. Deplorable health services

Primary health care constantly offers a range of health services to their communities, so it is sometimes made up by the lack of them or precarious facilities for their development.

8. Anti-vaccines

The effectiveness of the vaccines has prevented the death of 2 to 3 million people in the year, according to the WHO. So it makes an alert to those who refuse to apply vaccines.

9. Dengue

There are about 390 million infections per year. One of the concerns of WHO rests on how climate change has created an environment conducive to the generation of infection in territories where it had not previously occurred.

According to the organization, dengue, transmitted by a mosquito, can be lethal in 20% of the population that suffers from the disease. Places like India and Bangladesh increase their infection figures in rainy seasons.

10. HIV

Despite good progress, the HIV/AIDS epidemic continues and claims the lives of at least one million people a year. 37 million people are carriers of the virus, and many of them belong to marginalized minorities in the health services; the LGBTI community, sex workers and the prison population.

LatinAmerican Post | Jorge Becerra

Translated from "OMS: 10 amenazas para la salud en 2019"