Public Health in Antigua - Research Paper Example

Public Health Antigua Introduction Antigua is situated in the north of Leeward Island Chain in the Eastern Caribbean. The island is a low lying terrain within Eastern Caribbean. The position of Antigua makes it prone to hurricanes since it is rocked by earthquakes constantly. Antigua is also a British colony as it was colonized by Britain. Democracy is highly practiced within the Antigua Island. Public health in Antigua is headed by the Barbuda council. In addition to the Barbuda council there are a number of bodies that govern Antigua. These include bodies like Eastern Caribbean States which is an organization formed to cater for issues like economic policies and pharmaceutical procurements within the island. There is scarcity of resources within the Antigua Island since the bulk of their economy lies on tourism due to the physical attractions of the island and building and financial services conducted both locally and internationally. Public health in Antigua has improved over the years due to the numerous changes that have been made on the health sector by the government. For example, maternal and child services have tremendously improved because of the highly qualified staff employed by public health sectors throughout the island. This has promoted the delivery of antenatal services and care as they are being handled by trained officials employed in both public and private health care institutions (Wiist 252). Whereas Public health has improved in Antigua, the reason behind this improvement is the upgrade in health education. Health education has played a major role in the improvement of public health within the island as they integrated into collaboration with the ministry of health to ensure that every citizen and children living in Antigua are entitled to quality health care services by ensuring more medical schools and colleges. Another reason for improved health care in Antigua is the utility of Public education to the island. This has promoted immunization and prevention of common diseases within the island thus, has greatly impacted on the general health of citizens in Antigua. Moreover, agencies catering for health care services have also been on the rise in the highland as they have sponsored and offered financial assistance to citizens suffering from various ailments. This paper examines public health in Antigua. The Environment and Human Security in Antigua Citizens of Antigua are assured of proper security in health related issues since the country to which the island is based is a signatory to multiple health international protocols. These international protocols address various issues amongst their member states like policies plans, programs and environmental issues affecting different member countries for example Antigua (Wiist 253). A good example is the “National Environmental Strategy and Action Plan of 2004-2009.” Access to Clean Water and Sanitation Despite the country in which Antigua is based having a reputation of low rainfall levels, measures have been put in place to ensure that citizens living in Antigua are supplied with safe water and that the citizens live in a clean environment. In order to ensure more safety environments, pit latrines and underground wells have been erected for the under privileged in Antigua to serve the public with safe waste products disposal and safe drinking water. Being an Island, citizens of Antigua are not safe in using sea water, and the underground wells are properly treated before being given to the public for various purposes by the government. Solid Waste Solid waste if not properly treated can be harmful to citizens, vegetation and the environment. Antigua has constructed a sanitary land fill which is used for disposing solid waste. This has impacted on the public health in the island because they are not exposed to microbial pathogens which are caused by fermentation of the waste. In addition, the citizens are also free from exposure of harmful pollutants which normally results from chemical poisoning (Antigua and Barbuda 125). Deforestation and Soil Degradation Public health in Antigua is affected by deforestation and soil degradation due to the numerous hurricane cases experienced in the region. The condition is further worsened by poor agricultural and livestock practices in the region. This has impacted negatively on citizens living within the region as they have resorted to Habitat modification, population migration and change in their feeding patterns. Persistent Organic Pollutants Public health in Antigua is secured from persistent organic pollutants by health programs which have been adopted by the country. The health programs have ensured that the citizens are properly educated on pesticides management and disposal. They are also educated on proper ways of maintaining and updating national inventories of pesticides to ensure that they are not affected by their use within the region. The plans have also catered for the different administrative procedures that help in the control of polychlorinated biphenyls which when not handled negatively affects citizens health in the highland. The measures have ensured that citizen’s health within Antigua is protected as they harmful persistent organic pollutants are safely disposed from the environment (Antigua and Barbuda 68). Road Safety Antigua lags behind in the road safety department and this has negatively affected public health within the island. The number of accidents on the roads has gradually increased over the years and this has affected the manpower within the island due to numerous road carnages. When citizens involve themselves in road accidents, they are prone to physical, emotional and mental traumas which fall under the health sector and the manpower. Citizens involved in the accidents thus have poor health as many nurse numerous injuries which at times lead to disabilities plus they may stop going to their jobs and thus poverty strikes. Disabilities affect the daily activities of individuals therefore affecting the general public health and living standards of the citizens living in the island. Violence Public health in Antigua is negatively affected by the cases of violence experienced in the island. Majority of violence cases are in form of attempted murder or murder and rape. This affects public health in Antigua as it increases the total costs used for treatment that should have been used in other health departments. Both the health sector and the society are forced to pay for cases of violence which mostly are perpetrated against women to compensate them for the assault. In addition, violence affects public health as it renders many homeless resulting to pathetic living conditions and the end result are spread of diseases. Disasters Antigua experiences multiple hurricanes yearly and this has serious consequences to citizens living on the island. Disasters in the form of hurricanes have affected the food supply and polluted the environment in the island leading to numerous communicable diseases and resulting to decline in the public health of the citizens (Noji 62). Climate Change Antigua as an island is susceptible to climate change due to the varying sea levels and temperatures experienced in the region. The climate change in the region is also responsible for the numerous hurricanes that rock the country annually. Climate change vulnerabilities have made food production in the region impossible as the climate does not support the production of various farm produce. Citizens in the region have thus experienced an increase in intestinal illness and mental health impacts like depression and post-traumatic stress disorders. The Health System’s Stewardship Role In Antigua, the ministry of health is tasked with the responsibility of delivering health to the citizens living within the island. They are also tasked with monitoring water used for drinking purposes to ensure that the water is healthy for drinking purposes and that it is not polluted by waste (Antigua and Barbuda 56). The Health System Performance The health system’s performance in Antigua has been ranked the highest because of the equitable access to health care services throughout the island. Different departments in the health sector have also been ranked top and they have shown evidence of improvement in the health care sector in Antigua despite the numerous challenges experienced in the region. The success on the sector has been largely boosted by the availability of medical schemes which sponsors diagnostic services and offers financial assistance to the citizens. Health Legislation Antigua has numerous health legislation that has been set up by international agencies or the government to protect healthcare in the region. Various legislations have been introduced in the country where the island is based like the “2008 pesticide and Toxic Chemical Act” which regulated the transportation of pesticides in and out of the country. The Health Services Health Sector in Antigua majorly relies on the primary health care systems to reach their targeted audience while taking heed of the inequalities which exist in the island. An example is that numerous clinics have been constructed throughout the island to serve the citizens who are suffering from different ailments and are living in the area. In addition, Antigua also has secondary and tertiary health services which are being offered at strategic points within the island. These secondary and tertiary health services serve the general health needs of the citizens of Antigua (Modeste, Naomi, and Teri Helen 179). Health and International Cooperation Public health in Antigua is successful because of the numerous aids from different health and international organizations. It receives donations from numerous agencies to aid in treating citizens. A good example is that AIDS donations given to them to help in creating awareness amongst the public and control the spread of the disease. The global fund is their major sponsor in health care related issues. In addition, developed countries have also joined hands to support the eradication of diseases within the island. More so, China has been on the fore front for its funding projects in constructing health and medical centers within the region (Modeste, Naomi, Teri Helen 169). Works Cited Noji, Eric K. The Public Health Consequences of Disasters. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. Print. The book uses recent research to highlight the various issues on the impacts of disasters to public health. It tackles such issues like general issues, weather, human disasters and geophysical occurrences. Antigua and Barbuda: Country Environmental Profile. S.l: s.n., 1990. Print. This book discusses various environmental policies, protection and economic developments of Antigua and Barbuda. Wiist, William H. The Bottom Line or Public Health: Tactics Corporations Use to Influence Health and Health Policy, and What We Can Do to Counter Them. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010. Internet resource. The book discusses the different tactics used globally that are essential to a situation and the public good. Modeste, Naomi, Teri Tamayose, and Helen H. Marshak. Dictionary of Public Health Promotion and Education: Terms and Concepts. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, 2004. Internet resource. This book discusses the common terms and concepts used in public health education and promotion. Read More