This study is aimed, first, at soliciting and collating current
views from the US public health establishment on global health
and understanding the impact of health conditions of communities
beyond US borders, a relatively new perspective that has gained
prominence in the post cold war era of globalization. Second,
the study will use information from the first step as input
for messages that will help institutionalize the teaching and
practice of global health in the US. The overarching goal is
to bring about a change in orientation across the public health
establishment in the US towards the need to embrace public health
practice as a global enterprise, that is, that the health of
communities is of a global concern and that it is in the vital
interest of the US to assume a leadership role in this enterprise.
The following reasons underscore the pressing need for the
public health establishment in the US to fully appreciate the
effects of globalization on public health here in the US as
well as globally. The following are also the reasons why, in
reshaping opinions and perceptions on public health education
and practice, the US should assume a leading role by example:
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Polls show that most Americans view globalization
as a growing interconnectedness of the world, "that we've
become a more global society, economically and politically,
so decisions being made here affect other areas, and other
governments' decisions affect us."
-
Americans' attitudes towards US involvement
with other countries are illustrated by comments such as these:
"the world is so interconnected today that, in the long
run, helping Third World countries to develop is in the economic
interest of the US."
-
As an economic development paradigm, globalization
is gaining prominence and has a high potential of impacting
human health and well-being in various ways.
With generally positive feelings about globalization nationally,
it is in the vital interest of the US to assume a leadership
role in operationalizing globalization in the best ways possible.
-
As a nation of immigrants, there is an increase
of new Americans with increased health problems.
-
Resources, human and otherwise, will have
to be appraised at all levels of government to adequately
handle the health and social problems relating to increased
migration.
Schools of Public, in particular, will have to
revamp their curricula relating to international health to embrace
more appropriately the increasing environmental health problems
and stifling poverty in developing countries as well as in some
urban centers in the US.
