Global Health

Presentation
By Jenea Bennett, Mary Cooper, Faith Jones & Katherine Olsen

World Health Organization

World Health Organization (WHO) began on April 7, 1948

Now each year April 7th is considered world day

More than 7,000 people from 150 countries are involved in

the World Health Organization

WHO mission is to provide global leadership in public

health by using health specialists, medical doctors, scientists,

epidemiologist, along with people in finance, economics and
health statistics (WHO, 2015).

WHO Assembly

World Health Organizations

Focus
This global health agencys primary role is to direct and

coordinate international health within the United Nations

system.
WHO directs and coordinates international health by

working in:
health systems
health promotion
communicable diseases
non communicable diseases
corporate services
preparedness and emergency responsiveness

Vulnerable Population

European Region

WHO considers the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland the European
Region

Caucasus, central Asia and eastern Europe in particular are vulnerable to water sanitation

19 million people do not have access to protected source of drinking water

67 million people lack access to sanitation facilities in the European Region

Assessing costs and policy action puts a strain on decision making in terms of water sanitation

Lack of an adequately protected source of drinking water

No access to piped water in different locations

This includes 71% of the rural population that do not have access to piped water

HISTORY

Focus on European Region water quality

Water pollution related to raw sewage has been a catalyst for

disease outbreak in Europe throughout the ages

Typhoid and Cholera outbreaks during the Middle Ages were

directly related to contaminated water supply

The Industrial Revolution saw factories dump waste into rivers

that supplied household drinking water (Kelley, & Vitzthum)

PRESENT DAY PROBLEMS

100 million people still do not have a connection to drinking water

67 million people have no access to sanitation
6 million people in the European Region still rely on surface water
11 countries still practice open defecation
10 Europeans die every day from diarrheal disease as a result of

unsafe water and poor sanitation (WHO, 2015)

GLOBAL HEALTH, WATER

RELATED ISSUES
Challenges in preventing water quality-related disease:
1 billion people lack access to an improved water supply
2 million annual deaths attributable to unsafe water
More than 50 countries still reporting outbreaks of cholera
Naturally occurring arsenic and fluoride damage the health of

millions

Estimated 260 million infected with schistosomiasis (WHO, 2015)

How is is WHO helping?

Ensure water quality

Control, prevent, and reduce water-related diseases
Promote water safety plans
Serve as a regional hub for technical advice about health

interventions and responses to emergency situations

How is WHO helping?

From 2011-2014:

WHO water safety plan (WSP)

Raising awareness and capacity building
Field demonstration projects

Methodological trainings on the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring

Programme (JMP) for Water Supply and Sanitation and the Global
Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking Water (GLASS)

Country assessments on the situation of soil-transmitted helminths and

water, sanitation and hygiene

Challenges could include lack of money or issues with getting individuals

to campaign

Effect on Nursing

Healthcare Waste
Blood
Sharp and non-sharps
Pharmaceuticals
Radioactive materials
Chemicals

Healthcare waste has a greater potential of

causing harm than any other type of waste
(WHO, 2015b)

Improper disposal can lead to water

contamination and cause infections, toxic
effects, injuries (WHO, 2015b)

Nursing Involvement

Through the use of

Assessment
Surveillance
Evaluation
Applying Evidence
Education

Nurses are able to

Identify possible

water contamination
Reduce disease
outbreaks
Increase awareness
Advocate for public
health policies

References
Kelley, K, & Vitzthum, E. Human Health and Water. Retrieved from:
http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/Ge-Hy/Human-Health-and-Water.html#ixzz3gomGeDwP
Pike-MacDonald, S., Best, D., Twomey, C., Bennett, L., and Blakely, J. (2007). Promoting safe
drinking water. Canadian Nurse, 15-19.
World Health Organization. (2015). About WHO. Retrieved from: http://www.who.int/about/en/
World Health Organization. (2015). About what we do. Retrieved from:
http://www.who.int/about/what-we-do/en/
World Health Organization. (2015). Country Work. Retrieved from :
http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/environment-and-health/water-andsanitation/country-work
World Health Organization. (2015). Water Sanitation Health. Retrieved from:
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/facts_figures/en/
World Health Organization (2015b). Water sanitation health: health-care waste. World Health
Organization. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/healthcare_waste/en/