The social setting that most individuals are exposed to determines their overall health in the society. The disparity that exists between some of the nations in the world when it comes to health is widening with each passing year. During the signing of the millennium goals back in 2000, the world’s richest nations decided to assist the less privileged nations find their footing when it came to creating a level playing field. Now that the deadline for the millennium goals is getting closer, people are left wondering what comes next. It is vital to note that even as the deadline to achieving some of the achievements is near, some may point out that a lot is yet to be done. To some extent, this may be true. The world needs to come together to shape the current situation into one that is manageable, so as to allow the establishment of newer goals that may cater to the growing issue of health in some of the world’s poorest nations (Wilkinson and Hulme 79).
Social determinants of health are realized as being crucial in determining the manner in which individuals in a certain environment live. Focusing on the halting of the spread of HIV/AIDS and other diseases such as malaria means that people may get to understand that every aspect of their lives could just depend on the environment in which they are. What this means is that, for some of the diseases present in the world, the environment has a large part to play in their existence. Malaria can be stopped if close attention was paid to the environment. Taking care of the environment means that individuals are, in the long run, taking care of themselves, which is the idea behind protecting the environment. As part of the ongoing talks for the future development goals, it is crucial to analyze the importance of the aspects surrounding a society (Wilkinson and Hulme 82). It is my belief that this is a global health issue because every individual is affected by it. At one point or another, society is faced with countless persons living with HIV/AIDS. In first world countries, this may not be a big problem, but in developing regions, this scourge is distressing. Everyone can be affected by HIV/AIDS in the sense that, if an individual is infected, then their input in society is rather limited. Furthermore, society is forced to cater to the needs of these persons because they constantly need attention, especially if their situation is dire.
The goal is aimed at protecting more individuals from getting infected with HIV/AIDS, and at the same time, protect individuals from malaria, which seems to be a big issue in most parts. Infant mortality rates and deaths of pregnant women can be reduced significantly if this goal was paid close attention. By educating people on the risks associated with wife inheritance or multiple sexual partners in some parts of the world, the spread of HIV/AIDS would be reduced extensively. A failure to examine this issue critically has proven a burden to most of the people affected by it. One might take an example of South Africa, where it is believed that almost one n ten people is infected with HIV/AIDS. The number of individuals who are dying due to malaria is alarming, and these numbers are being reported among children and pregnant women. This burden will likely be felt in the coming generations where individuals are being affected by their present lifestyle choices. By examining the impact of analyzing, evaluating, and calculating the impact of some social factors, there is a slight chance that individuals might become aware that their immediate situations can determine the manner in which they live, age, and/or die. Globally, folks might try to comprehend the nature of the disparities that exist, especially when it comes to health, and may try to influence the trend positively (Wilkinson and Hulme 87).
This millennium development goal has tried to measure the current disparities that exist in health among nations, and has even gone ahead to point out the principal driver behind these disparities. Social inequity is the main driver behind the different health situations that exist, which goes to show that poorer nations are at risk of feeling the pinch of health inconsistencies that surrounds them (McIntyre 3). Commissions that advocate for the analysis of this goal have pointed out key areas that need addressing, which means that recommendations are being made to ensure that most people become aware of the social tools that impact their health situations. The distribution of money, power, and even a region’s resources affect the lives of people on a daily basis, and this is not just in one region. These tools are experienced on a global scale, which means that everyone is affected by them.
This millennium development goal (MDG) will be a stepping stone in trying to educate people on the different conditions that alter the state of their lives. As compared to the other development goals that exist, the halting of the spread of HIV/AIDS and malaria guarantees that more people become familiar with what goes on around them, and how they might be affected. When compared with the other development goals, this goal revolves around the concept of ensuring every individual lives to achieve full potential. The concept of empowering women and creating gender equality can be addressed in the sense that women and their positions in society can be elevated if they were to be educated on the dangers that surround them. In a number of regions, women are considered to be the center of the lives of every individual in society. If they get to comprehend the nature of their current predicaments, then; eradicating poverty, reducing child mortality, and acquiring improved maternal health would be among the first things to change in most developing regions. It is my opinion that not many people are familiar with what the millennium development goals are meant to achieve. Some believe that it is a ruse or project with which the world leading organizations, for example; the UN uses to convince people of their existence (McArthur 1).
The SDOH, through this new goal, will be addressed in a number of ways. To begin with, it may lead to the education of a number of people across all borders on some of the issues that affect them. Also, this development goal may try to find ways in which the issue of health disparities is reduced, and this may be through the balancing of power, money, and resources present in a region (CSDOH 112). Furthermore, it may try to address the issue of food insecurity in some of the world’s developing countries. This may work toward giving most of the countries a fighting chance at being on the same level as most of the other nations whose economies thrive on their exports. Halting the spread of HIV/AIDS may be challenging especially in developing countries due to other factors that are present, for example; political instability, poverty, and prostitution. However, trying to ensure that everyone is aware of the current situation should not be seen as an impossible task.
Some of the countries that might benefit tremendously from this continuing goal include; South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Somalia. All these are African countries, which face the issues of HIV/AIDS, poverty, and political unrest respectively. By introducing an avenue in which all people are educated on the importance of social equality, it is possible to reduce the number of casualties due to disease, poverty, and violence. This means that education is the most crucial aspect in trying to bring focus to the present issues affecting most regions. When it comes to poverty and political unrest, there is no telling what people can do, and this might be the most challenging aspect of the millennium goal. Poverty forces people to act out, and as such, may bring forth social problems. Violence, in the past, has seen the rape, torture, and murder of women and children. By providing a platform for the balancing of all forces present, it is possible to attain this millennium development goal (Wilkinson and Hulme 93).
In order to attain the above, economically powerful nations can provide an avenue to loan countries capital for the restoration of some of their most basic amenities. It has happened before, but not many nations are willing to do that presently due to the economic crises most nations are facing. It would also be possible for the developing nations to engage in trading with the other nations, but have a slight advantage. This could be in the tariffs they are exposed to, which can be slightly lower than all the other players on the same field. These are just some of the things that the world’s leading nations can do in order to aid in the continuity of this millennium development goal, which has seen the growth of countless societies. These are expectations not only the UN wishes to see, but the whole world. The millennium development goals are working to bring together a rather diverse world (McArthur 1).
Works Cited
Commission on Social Determinants of Health. Closing the Gap in a Generation: Health equity through Action on the Social Determinants of Health. Geneva: World Health Organization. <http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2008/9789241563703_eng.pdf>.
McArthur, John. “Own the Goals: What the Millennium Development Goals Have Accomplished”. Brookings 21 Feb. 2013. Print. <http://www.brookings.edu/research/articles/2013/02/21-millennium-dev-goals-mcarthur>.
McIntyre Lynn, et al. Perceptions of the Social Determinants of Health by Two Groups More and Less Affiliated with Public Health in Canada. BMC Research Notes 247.6 (2013): 1-9. <http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1756-0500-6-247.pdf>.
Wilkinson Rorden, and David Hulme. The Millennium Development Goals and Beyond: Global Development After 2015. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012. Print.
