Today, millions of people all over the world suffer because they cannot access the health care they need. In developing countries, this situation is even worse. According to the WHO, there is, in fact, a 36-year life expectancy gap between developed and underdeveloped countries; a child born in Malawi can roughly expect to live to 47, whereas a child born in Japan would most likely reach the ripe age of 83.
In developing countries such as Chad, around one child in five dies before reaching the age of 5; in the European region, the mortality rate is about one in every hundred. Every day, about 21,000 children die before their fifth birthday from avoidable diseases, such as pneumonia, malaria, and diarrhea.
While progress has been made in preventing under-fives mortality around the world, it is evident that it is still necessary to boost health care services in the developing world and to promote healthier lifestyles.
Promoting A Healthier Lifestyle
Often, it is not enough to provide healthcare in order to bring sustainable transformation to rural villages and underdeveloped regions; changes in lifestyle need to happen and people need to be educated in order for this to happen.
Today, about 80 percent of people in developing countries are forced to rely on local health care, often provided in the form of unequipped local clinics and dubious local healers. It is not possible to call 911 and there usually aren’t any ambulances either; often people must walk for long periods of time, sometimes days, in order to reach a decent hospital.
For these reasons, it is important to promote a healthier lifestyle in order to partially reduce the need for certain types of health care. Developing populations need to be educated on the importance of clean and safe water for drinking, cooking and washing, nutritious food to end chronic hunger and malnutrition and solutions for critical sanitation, disease prevention, and home health. Many deaths can be avoided simply by improving sanitation conditions, unsafe water, and malnutrition.
Providing Emergency Health Care
In some cases, such as disaster relief after natural disasters or political conflicts, it is necessary to intervene with practical help and supply medical care, as well as construction, counseling and food. In these cases, various organizations and providers distribute medicines to help in times of crisis. However, this is not a long-term sustainable option; it is necessary to improve overall conditions in order to transform developing areas.
The Benefits of Technology
The United Nations has recognized the progress made in developing countries since the turn of the century; in particular, technology has played an essential role in aiding developing countries. Technology provides innovative solutions that promote the population’s welfare, whether it refers to solar energy to power villages or improving health care.
Thanks to the global diffusion of mobile phones, people in developing communities have the possibility to have access to vital information about their health. A huge problem is in fact represented by a lack of knowledge and awareness, a situation which can at least partially be solved by unprecedented access to Internet resources now available through technology. Furthermore, it is now possible through certain websites to find doctors and receive online consultations if a physical consultation is not possible. Sometimes, this can be enough to save lives.
Portable sensors have also shown to be a valuable asset, allowing the user to monitor health conditions, especially when easy access to hospitals is limited or impossible.
Hope For the Future
The vast improvements in health care over the years give great hope for the future, although unfortunately substantial portions of populations in developing countries have limited access to health care. Through gaining a local understanding of health care and wellness conditions, we can improve conditions around the world, taking yet another small but significant step towards a better tomorrow.
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