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Explore causes of preventable risks globally and in developing countries, focusing on combating under-nutrition, high blood pressure, unsafe water, and iron deficiency. Learn about effective interventions for a healthier world.
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Combating disease and improving health Presented by ROSANNA AGBLE at Taking Action for the World’s Poor and Hungry People Beijing, China October 17–19, 2007
Causes of death by age group2.Women • Africa accounts for 20% of the world’s births but 40% of world’s maternal deaths. • Chance of dying in pregnancy or childbirth: one in 16 • Result from cumulative effects of malnutrition in childhood, lack of adequate housing and sanitation, poor educational opportunities and lack of access to health care.
Top 10 major preventable risks globally • childhood and maternal underweight; • unsafe sex; • high blood pressure; • tobacco; • alcohol; • unsafe water, • sanitation and hygiene; • high cholesterol; • indoor smoke from solid fuels; • iron deficiency and overweight/obesity.
Major preventable risks in developing countries • Underweight • Deficiencies in micronutrients like iron and zinc • Unsafe sex • Unsafe water, sanitation, and hygiene • Indoor smoke from solid fuels, the leading risks examined in those countries.
Underweight/under-nutrition The most cost effective strategy to reduce under-nutrition and its consequences combines a mix of preventive and curative interventions. • Micronutrient supplementation and fortification - Vitamin A, zinc and iron – is very cost-effective. • Maternal counselling to continue breast feeding, and targeted provision of complementary food as necessary. • Routine treatment of diarrhoea and pneumonia, major consequences of under-nutrition
High blood pressure and cholesterol • Reducing salt in processed foods • Cutting dietary fat, • Encouraging exercise • Higher consumption of fruits and vegetables • Lowering smoking.
Unsafe Water and Sanitation • Improved water supply and basic sanitation, if extended globally, could prevent 1.8 billion cases of diarrhoea • If universal piped and regulated water supply were achieved, 7.6 billion cases of diarrhoea (69.5 per cent reduction) would be prevented annually. • In the short term, the most cost-effective strategy evaluated is disinfection of unsafe water at the point of use.
Iron deficiency • Affects an estimated two billion people with consequences for maternal and perinatal health and child development. • 800,000 (1.5 per cent) of deaths worldwide are attributable to iron deficiency, 1.3 per cent of all male deaths and 1.8 per cent of all female deaths. • Interventions -- Iron fortification
Conclusion • Implementing these interventions require bold policies by Governments. • Health ministries, have to play a stronger role • in formulating risk prevention policies • give top priority to developing effective, committed policies for the prevention of large risks to health, • increase and encourage intersectoral and international collaboration to reduce major extraneous risk to health (unsafe water and sanitation or a lack of education)