Health Inequalities: Prevention, Solutions, and Global Health Report

This report delves into the critical issue of health inequalities and highlights the importance of prevention strategies. It examines the social determinants of health, such as income and wealth, and their impact on health outcomes. The report emphasizes the need for proactive measures to reduce health disparities, including interventions to prevent the onset of health problems and to mitigate the impact of existing diseases. It references key publications by Marmot and Allen (2014) and the World Health Organization (2008), underscoring the role of policy and global collaboration in addressing health inequalities. The report stresses the importance of governments, communities, and individuals working together to create healthier environments and ensure access to universal healthcare services. The overall goal is to promote health equity and reduce the burden of preventable diseases worldwide.

If the world has the will to close the gap in health inequalities in a generation
Health inequalities have presented premature deaths globally, all of which can be
avoided. Health inequalities can be defined as avoidable unfair differences which exist across
different populations and group (Marmot and Allen 2014). These differences can be as a result of
inequalities in power, income and wealth. However, if the world has the will to close the gap in
health inequalities in a generation, then it should focus on prevention. Prevention is very critical
in closing the gap because its main aim is to improve the health of the given population.
Preventing health problems from developing, reducing the effect of the existing diseases on the
health and wellbeing of people as well as stopping the health problems from worsening are key
focuses of prevention. Prevention can also result into the reduction of public pressures on
spending by minimizing the length of time that people spend on ill-health, and the demand for
public services. Marmot and Allen (2014) argue that action to reduce the socioeconomic and
other disparities can result into closing the health inequalities gap in generation. Moreover,
report by World Health Organization (2008) revealed that the social and economic policies in
place have a great impact on the manner in which people live, the consequent chances of illness
as well as the premature death risks. Since action must be taken by all governments,
communities and individuals too, the policies in place should make it easier for everyone to
adopt healthy behaviors as well as provide universal healthcare services by investing more on
where resources are mostly required.

References
Marmot, M. and Allen, J.J., 2014. Social determinants of health equity. Retrieved from
https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.2105/AJPH.2014.302200
World Health Organization., 2008. Closing the gap in a generation: Health equity through action
on the social determinants of health. Retrieved from
https://www.who.int/social_determinants/final_report/csdh_finalreport_2008_execsumm.
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