Communicable Diseases
Chapter 13 deals with communicable diseases globally. Several cases have been discussed in the chapter. Each case in the chapter concerns specific communicable diseases. The chapter presents several cases about the occurrence of different communicable diseases across the globe. The cases discussed touch on topics on diseases such as Malaria, HIV Aids, Tuberculosis, Diarrhea, and Ebola among others.
Communicable diseases include all diseases that can be transmitted from one infected individual to a healthy person. Communicable diseases present a major burden of diseases globally. Global health data depicts that communicable diseases caused 15% of all deaths registered across the world in 2016. The diseases were cumulatively responsible for 19% of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs ) in the same year. Furthermore, the occurrence and severity of diseases are higher in developing countries than in the rest of the world. 40% of deaths and 40% of DALYs were as a result of communicable diseases in 2017 among low-income countries. The diseases infect people of all ages but some manifest severely in different age groups. For example, diarrhoea is more likely to kill children below the age of 5 years.
Although communicable diseases are a burden to many countries across the world, their impacts are more severe in Sub-Saharan Africa. The proportion of all deaths caused by communicable diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa is 46% as compared with the 15% global rate. In most cases, the diseases affect poor people with little knowledge on how to protect themselves from the diseases and have poor living conditions.
Since communicable diseases present a significant disease burden globally, the following sustainable development goals relate to the issue. First, the goal of ending the epidemics of AIDS, TB, Malaria, and other communicable diseases by 2030 is most relevant to the health issue. Secondly, the relevance of the SDG concerning universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare by 2030 is notable. The second relevant SDG is ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare by 2030. Last, the goal of reducing global maternal mortality to less than 70% by 2030 is relevant to the communicable diseases global health issue.