Educating Clinicians on the Global Nature of Diseases

Moore (2012) describes four main points for appropriate action to resolve the United States' public health readiness's global reach. Acting locally on global issues; United States investment in Global Health; alerting medical practitioners to disease manifestations, and learning from the achievements of other nations are some of the action areas. Despite the importance of all of these fields, I believe that sensitizing practitioners to the global existence of diseases is the most important. The global existence of illnesses must be made known to public health authorities and physicians to learn and treat patients with rare diseases. It's crucial to remember that the increased movement of people, the spreading out, is a positive thing. Based on such factors, Friis & Sellers (2013) state that there is a rapid adaptation of different micro-organisms leading to communicable diseases which require in-depth research. Treating various diseases have grown less effective, and this implies that an infectious disease in one nation is a problem for all countries. It is important to understand that infectious diseases, as well as different health risks, do not strictly respect national borders (Goldsteen et al., 2014). Threats which originate from other nations can have a huge impact on Americans in the United States and those who are abroad; it does not matter whether these individuals are affected directly, or they are contacts of such individuals (Moore, 2012). For that reason, practitioners need to be made aware of such global nature of diseases.

On the other hand, the sensitization process can also involve clinicians responding to outbreaks. When the US government learns of an epidemic in another nation, different agencies ought to consult with each other regarding the appropriate response (Moore, 2012). Some of the agencies which have relevant expertise in such circumstances include USAID, CDC, NIH and DOD. In the US, responding to international epidemics occurs s not planned but takes place in an ad hoc manner. There are several agencies funded by the government which has adequate resources that can assist in effective reaction to epidemics of infectious diseases. For example, the CDC authority does not have authority over the prevention and control of international diseases while USAID has inadequate financial and technical resources regarding this course (Friis & Sellers, 2013). Practically, individual workers from the government are aware of outbreaks do their best to ensure that they bring together agency efforts and afford aid to the countries which have been affected. Nonetheless, a formal system does not exist which have designed resources for this purpose.

Clinicians can also report cases through the surveillance system so as to help in the prevention of emerging diseases (Moore, 2012). In case there is a cluster of cases which involve emerging infectious diseases in remote parts Asia, Americas, Africa and East Europe the international community might or might not learn about them. In some cases, overseas government agencies such as Peace Corps or an individual from world health organization might report an unusual disease to the CDC and seek assistance to test the specimen for diagnosis (Goldsteen et al., 2014). Through scientific collaborations and international conferences experts of infectious diseases in the U.S have made contact with colleagues globally. As a result, they can get informal calls from colleagues in foreign countries asking for assistance and advice when there are unusual outbreaks. In some occasions, when notification reaches quickly such an informal type of surveillance succeeds. Therefore, it is important for clinicians to report cases which occur through a system of surveillance.

Furthermore, clinicians can also assist American citizens to prepare for international travels. For instance, in the course of 1996, there was the importation of yellow importation into Switzerland and the US by travelers who toured yellow fever endemic regions without the yellow fever vaccination (Goldsteen et al., 2014). At the same period, there was importation malaria into Europe with a good number coming from the UK. In such cases, clinicians can advise American citizens to desist from traveling during outbreaks. When the problem persists, the government might opt to close the border suddenly and without prior warning, land and sea carriers as well as cancel or curtail their services. But in most cases, issuance of travel restriction by the government might be the best way reduce the risk of exposure to such diseases.

All these activities for sensitization can be achieved when they are initiated at public health level and schools of medicine so that they carry on through help from the government and information from certified journals (Moore, 2012). Research indicates that the performance of local health departments in reception and response to urgent case reports which are based particularly on prospects of bioterrorism has significantly improved over the past few years regarding reliably and promptly reaching an action officer who in the long run takes proper action (Office of Disease Prevention and health Promotion, 2016). Nevertheless, the position of the incisive public health department and physician remains critical to detecting foreign origin diseases while at the same time take prompt action when necessary.

References

Friis, R. H., & Sellers, T. (2013). Epidemiology for public health practice. Jones & Bartlett Publishers.

Goldsteen, R., Dwelle, T., & Goldsteen, K (2014). Introduction to public health. 2nd edition New York: Springer Pub.

Moore, M. (2012). The global dimensions of public health preparedness and implications for US action. American journal of public health,102(6), e1-e7.

Office of Disease Prevention and health Promotion. (2016). Determinants of health. Accessed from HealthyPeople.gov, http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/about/foundation-health-measures/determinants-of-Health