Ugeskrift for laeger
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Ugeskrift for laeger · Sep 2006
Review[HIV/AIDS spread and influence on other health-related Millennium Development Goals].
HIV/AIDS is threatening the development of countries with high HIV prevalence. This article analyses the impact of HIV/AIDS on the Millennium Development Goals for Health. ⋯ We find a strong correlation between HIV and child mortality and HIV and TB. We conclude that, in order to reach the Millennium Development Goals, health strategies must include a comprehensive and coordinated approach to fight major health problems including improved resource allocation.
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Ugeskrift for laeger · Sep 2006
Review[Possibility for the health sector to actively contribute to peace-making and peace-keeping].
Conflict is one of the leading causes of death, disease and suffering. In the past, physicians mainly contributed to peace processes through humanitarian relief of suffering. ⋯ This article is a brief overview of current knowledge about the active role which health personnel can play in peace processes. This is described in more detail in international scientific journals under the terms ''Peace through Health'' and ''Health as a Bridge to Peace''.
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Low-income communities will within the next decades undergo rapid changes. The burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes, cardio-vascular disease and cancer, will comprise an increasing proportion of the total disease burden. The results of projections indicate that the already constrained health systems will face a double burden of disease, in which HIV/AIDS and other common infectious diseases will co-exist with the new NCDs. In order for preventive measures directed towards NCD to be cost-effective, these have to be implemented within the next 10-20 years.
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Malnutrition is the major underlying determinant of global disease and death. Maternal undernutrition and the premature introduction of complementary foods with low energy-nutrient density lead to low birth weight, impaired growth and intellectual development, and high mortality due to infectious diseases. More than 5 million of the 10 million annual child deaths are due to underlying undernutrition. As a result of rural-urban migration and access to refined sugar and fat, overnutrition and chronic diseases are also becoming an increasing problem among the poor.
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Countries like Mozambique and Tanzania have shown that some of the poorest countries in the world can make significant health gains with relatively limited additional financial resources. The global health development efforts are focused on the three health-related Millennium Development Goals, which have inspired the launch of important new Global Health Partnerships. The more focused global health development effort, matched with increased investments in health development, raises the prospective of further health gains in the coming years.