Global Health: Tuberculosis among Inmates in the United States - Essay Example

? Global Health Paper-Tuberculosis Different diseases have been able to have a given historical development through which they have been able to cause great harm on different individuals from different parts of the world. Depending on how some of these ailments and diseases are spread from one individual to the other, some of the diseases have been able to cause greater devastation on different populations on the world today. This is thus a research paper which gives some of the outstanding developments with Tuberculosis, especially among inmates in the United States. \ Introduction Tuberculosis is one of the major diseases which have been causing a lot of havoc on people today in different populations today. For instance, it is one of the leading killer diseases which are known by to be the greatest fear of the greatest majority of people in the universe today. Health is something important for a given nation, and the entire globe for that matter. This means that it would be necessary that a proper method for healthcare should be formulated towards ensuring there is a proper health structure for the entire world. This is the main reason why innovative finance comes in as a very good approach towards prison health care. Innovative financing is a modern approach that has been noted to come with a number of possibilities towards increasing overall economic development while bringing in positive possibilities which can effectively accelerate all the measures and processes put in place towards health promotion. Reflecting on this perspective, this paper critically examines global health, specifically reflecting on Tuberculosis from a broad point of view. The Impact of the Problem upon the Larger Community/World It is evident through research that about 592,000 Americans were released to societies from prison (Hughes & Wilson, 2003). Most remarkably, it is a common believe that criminals have a higher prevalence of diseases such as tuberculosis (TB), chronic medical conditions, substance abuse, AIDS, chronic medical conditions, and mental health problems than the common population in the United States (Flanagan, 2004). In that sense, the release of offenders to the community is considered to have negative impacts, seeing that this puts the lives of innocent people at the risk of getting TB from the inmates. Studies show that the higher prevalence of TB is linked to poor living conditions, pre-arrest poverty, intravenous drug use, and inadequate health-maintenance and disease-prevention practices (Hammett, Roberts, & Kennedy, 2001). Ex-offenders are a susceptible population as of high-risk behaviors and lack of understanding in relation to health promotion and disease avoidance. In simple words, it is unquestionable that the release of exposed criminals to the society presents a major threat and challenge to state, local, and nationwide public health sectors and criminal justice bureaus. Cited by different studies is the fact that TB has negative impacts, which can interfere with the growth of the economy and in that manner interfering with the growth of the nation as a whole (Visher, 2006). The Extent of the Problem In the recent years, it has been a common thing that much emphasis is being placed in the designing of comprehensive and thorough interventions which are based on a precise continual care with the aim of providing consistent care and assistance to offenders. This has been done within and as well beyond the prison perimeters (Markle & Raymond, 2007). There has as well been the recognition that there should proper means through which preparations are done towards the reintegration processes. This has been noted to function properly when it has been done before the individual has released back into the society (Dorothy & Logie, 2008). That has been noted to be the right way through which the society can rest assured that the individuals who have been released are free from TB and will not put the lives of others at risk. Reflecting on research, recognition of criminal health-care requirements and growth of transitional planning for post-release administered care may develop the victims’ accessibility to health care. This can as well decrease the risk to public health, and unswervingly affect criminal behavior that is associated to mental illness or substance abuse (Lawson, 2008). Outreach, discharge planning, entitlement security, and case management have been suggested as ways to improve the quality of ex-offender health care, reduce taxpayer costs, and lower recidivism rates. Managed health care for newly released offenders may also decrease the spread of communicable diseases such as AIDS, hepatitis, and TB (Burnettt & Maruna, 2006). Forces at play in the Growth of the Problem It clear there are several forces that contributes to the growth of the problem. For instance, lack of appropriate time and enough finances contribute to the growth of the problem (Flanagan, 2004). It is true that several departments and communities do not have enough funds to implement some of the programs, which are considered to be helpful in solving problems. What is more, ignorance, lack of education, and poverty are other factors contributing to the growth of the problem. Actions Currently Being Taken to Address the Problem Given the negative the negative impacts arising from this problem, the need to come up with the most suitable actions has been given the first priority. To begin with, correctional nurses account that criminals require education in fundamental health, medications, hygiene, self-care, nutrition, disease prevention, exercise, dental care, and screening (Flanagan & Flanagan, 2001). Then again, it is reported that offenders also require information on infectious diseases for instance, AIDS, TB, sexually trans-mitted diseases, hepatitis and common chronic diseases for instance hypertension, asthma, and diabetes (Borzycki & Makkai, 2007). Due to this kind of occurrence, different communities in different parts of the globe have always put it as a requirement that all the individuals who are to be reintegrated back into the community have to have their probation recorded towards effective monitoring so that other possible sexual offenses can be minimized (Elbe, 2010). All states in the United States have been known to require that all the offenders who are on parole or on probation should have to register with all local enforcement or law agency in the community in which they have been reintegrated. This has been done over the years as an attempt towards monitoring and managing these offenders so that future incidences might not be recorded. The indication here is that there would be a very big problem between the offenders and the community and the reason measures have to be integrated so that these kinds of problems can be solved and addressed in a much competent manner. In addition, a number of societies and states in different parts of the globe have been keen to design a number of new techniques through which the sexual offenders and other criminals can be effectively managed and supervised (Kinner, 2006). This has been done in form of therapy, dedicated paroles, and sometimes with life-time monitoring and supervision. From literature review, it should be noted that funding for these programs and operations have been a hindering factor. For instance, literature review has as well suggested that majority of the individuals who have committed some kind of sexual offense tend to have inappropriate mental situations and therefore a lot of funds would be required towards making sure that the individuals are given the rightful attention and as well ensuring that the vulnerable individuals in the society have been kept safe (Borzycki & Makkai, 2007). The requirements that have been suggested over the past years is that there should be mechanisms through which funds are provided and proper mentoring and training so that these issues and problems faced can be solved for once and for all. There have also been a number of questions whether the individuals who have committed a sexual offense and then taken for rehabilitation are given the appropriate medical care and rehabilitation attention (Flanagan, 2004). This has come as a result after a lot of observations have been made showing that different individuals would end up repeating the same acts once they have been out of the rehabilitation process. Other studies that have been done over the past few years have required that there would be the necessity of ensuring that all the offenders have been forced to effectively participate in some formal mentoring and treatment programs so that they can freely be integrated as bona-fides of the society and communities (Dilip & Suhas, 2008). This has been proposed as a kind of condition which has to be met if an individual wishes to be granted with a release. There has also been the proposition that individuals who had committed a sexual offense have to remain in custody for the longest time before establishing whether they can be released back into the society. This means that the individuals are capable causing greater harm on the individuals who are possible victims and yet very vulnerable. This issue of offenders and their integration into the society has become a very big issue depending on the myriad issues that have to be addressed if proper understanding between the offenders, the community and the rehabilitators were to come to a common agreement (Borzycki & Makkai, 2007). Actions Being Taken to Prevent the Problem from Occurring In order to stop the problem from occurring, it is clear that there are several actions that should be put into practice. For instance, it is reported that pre-release health-care planning calls for communication between the community and the institution (California Board of Corrections, 2000). In that case, coordination among parole departments, correctional facilities, state, local, and federal public health departments, judicial organizations, health-care providers, police, and social service agencies is compulsory to guarantee continuation of health care and to keep away from repetition of services (Dorothy & Logie, 2008). Moreover, Court involvement may be required to facilitate reintegration of psychologically sick offenders. Court-ordered contribution in treatment plans; electronic monitoring, drug testing, restraining orders, and curfew restrictions are some suggested actions (California Board of Corrections, 2000). Wide-ranging interagency transitional health-care indoctrination may involve interagency concurrences, interconnected information systems, and cross-training. However, it is worth noting that transitional health-care preparation was not instigated until a small number of years ago. Furthermore, no studies have been available on the interdepartmental management and communication concepts that facilitate it. From majority of the studies, it has been shown that there are a number of factors that have to be put into consideration if a proper outcome would be expected. As from the revelations of past researches, it has been noted that there is very big evidence which proves that any positive reintegration program and outcome would be attained only when a number of predisposing factors have been catered for. This is to say that, the person who has been noted to have a disease and who has just been reintegrated into the society should have all his or her ultimate problems and issues being addressed in very holistic manner, and which should be done in total consideration of the individual’s social, emotional and physical needs (Visher, 2006). This would ensure that their future lives after release and reintegration are better and would never repeat their offense once again for the rest of their lives. Nevertheless, it shall be agreed that the facilitation of an offender and his reintegration would be something very complex and a very demanding task (Burnettt & Maruna, 2006). As well, the overall impacts that might arise from the major interventions would be something very hard to measure effectively. The major goals of the society are ensuring that crimes have been prevented and all those who are vulnerable to disease have been kept safe. From literature and what has been proposed in the introduction, it shall be noted that there is a very big relation, which would lead one towards the understanding that there has been problems facing back into their societies. Literature suggests that the problems gave always been on the existence with dynamic measures put in place in a way of addressing the problems accordingly. However, despite all the mechanism and strategies that have always been put in place, the thing that has been noted is that the problems have continued to take various dimensions which have been aggravated by the increasing human population (Flanagan, 2004). In that case, the best thing would be in coming up with another study through which the exact problems shall be revealed afresh towards coming up with appropriate measures through which the problems can be done away with. This would bring a sense of understanding between the offenders who have just been rehabilitated and the communities into which the offenders have been re-introduced. Basically, as the literature review has been able to suggest, there are various degrees of the problems that are being faced within different communities concerning individuals who have been reintegrated into the very communities and who had committed offenses. Also, this kind of problems have as well been experienced with all other rehabilitees who had previously committed any kind of crime be it robbery, sexual offenses, or even murder (Lawson, 2008). It has taken a long time for the community to be in a position of recognizing the individuals as reformed, but on the contrary seeing them as harmful and damaging individuals who can cause greater atrocities than the individuals themselves could have imagined. This has hence caused much fear and contention in the societies, and the reason it should be agreed that the problems of rehabilitation and re-integration of sexual offenders back into the society is something quite real. It is very true that innovative financing is something that matters and especially with health issues for the globe. It shall be agreed that the last few years have been seen a great turmoil on issues of health the whole world over. This has led to come up with concerns and ways through which the richest nations can be useful towards a better health (Markle & Raymond, 2007). As years went by, a number of structures were put in place in addressing the issues with global health, hence making it necessary to integrate these goals as part of the Millennium Development Goals. This was to involve cutting down child death rates and reducing all the burdens that come up with specific diseases such as AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis (Dilip & Suhas, 2008). In order to realize all these objectives and goals, it was necessary to come up with an innovative structure of financing so that possible and realistic solutions could be arrived at. Due to the extent and impact with these global health problems, a number of approaches were necessary towards ensuring that all the goals were realized. Any form of financing is quite necessary so that it can be engaged towards backing up and engaging a number of efforts within the area. Such procedures were to yield the greatest benefits to health matters while creating room towards economic development (Elbe, 2010). Because this matters a lot, it was necessary to come up with global policies so that it can be easy to find a long lasting solution to global health care. This was able to engage the richer economies in promoting the status of the global health care and be able to help the growing economies towards the realization of their health care goals and objectives. The Roles of the CHN/PHN Several roles are played by CHN/PHN such as controlling the manner through which programs are controlled and managed towards addressing problems in the discussed topic. Monitoring all the major activities necessary towards developing advanced programs, which can result to addressing the problem examined in the discussion, is a role of the CHN (Borzycki & Makkai, 2007). Furthermore, controlling different agencies and monitoring their contributions towards addressing the problem of offenders is another role. The call to unite the society and the prison departments, justice systems, and other agencies is a main role of the CHN. Managing budgets and allocating the necessary funds and resources is also another role of the CHN. Ethical Considerations in Solving the Problem Ethical responsibility is a contentious issue in which people behavior in a manner which is pleasing to all members of a given community. This responsibility is significant in making life comfortable to all people. Majority of the societies observe these ethical issues since they are very significant for any development (Borzycki & Makkai, 2007). Towards better health care for the world, the best practice is only in doing more funding for it. This is so because it would be the rightful approach towards solving the major problems faced today. For example, there are very many serious diseases which are being found every day and therefore without preparedness it cannot be easy to solve such diseases while they emerge. There is also the need to understand that the health of a given society will be directly proportional to the possible goals and developments that shall be realized in the given society. This is to say, it should be better that more innovative funding is done for health so that there can be overall economic growth (California Board of Corrections, 2000). The healthier a nation is, the easier it will be in a better position towards realizing its goals and objectives. Due to the problems such economic crisis and increased disease outbreaks, it shall be agreed that the necessary approach which will do miracles is to have a globe which is thoroughly engaged in doing more innovative financing for health. Budgetary Considerations of the Interventions Evidently through the discussion, it is clear that the need to have a budget is crucial towards addressing the problem from in a wide ranging manner. The budget will be used as a key towards allocating funds required to help offenders who are released to the community (Borzycki & Makkai, 2007). I order to effectively carry out the budget, the number of offenders entering and leaving prison facilities must be recorded. This will form a benchmark from where implementing the rightful measures will come into play accordingly. Other Interventions Proposed to Solve the Problem The research study has been able to outline the major problems that have been associated with the rehabilitation and re-integration of offenders back into the community. Other interventions proposed to solve the problem are that there should be sensitization of different individuals in the societies so that they can be able to accept the individuals back into the society towards overall commitment and understanding (Dorothy & Logie, 2008). As well, there should be prolonged counseling and appropriate therapies in ensuring that both the victims of sexual assault and the offenders are given psychological interventions and guidance so that they can have better lives into the future days. From the data that has just been realized, it should be noted that different individuals who had been traumatized by the assault should be keenly advised and counseled. Another important conclusion is that there should be better law procedures which should be undertaken against individuals who have been noted to commit the sexual offense again after they have been reintegrated into the society (California Board of Corrections, 2000). This should be done in a manner in which would integrate both the individuals and the entire society. As well, some individuals have been noted to have mental imbalances and therefore it should be necessary that appropriate intervention so that the follow-up problems can addressed. This would ensure that the ex-offenders are correctly re-integrated back into the community. Evaluating the Effectiveness of the Intervention There is nothing more damaging like an offense, and especially on the victim onto which the offense has been done on, and the community as well. Over the years, there have been increased cases through which different offenders have been released to the society and putting the lives of others at risk (Flanagan, 2004). This has caused greater concerns and hence the greatest question has been on how this damaging occurrence can be prevented. However, there have been greater problems that have been noted as this kind of occurrence continues to take place. There have been increased concerns and problems which would demand to be addressed towards ensuring that the individuals who have just been released can comfortably fit and be accepted into the society. Due to the existence of these problems, it would be justifiable that a study is carried out after which specific interventions shall be found towards addressing the problems. Conclusion In this conclusion, it is necessary to conclude by establishing how innovative finance be can be used and applied in the global health. To begin with, any finances which have been outsourced for health care purposes, the first approach can be in acquiring appropriate and enough facilities towards provision of better health. This can be done by ensuring that, not only the facilities have been purchased or constructed, but by ensuring that they have been equipped with adequate materials towards provision of better services to different people in the world. It shall also be appreciable that different NGOs have been involved in the practices because they have been noted to offer better operations which can result in better global health care within the shortest period of time. Therefore, it is necessary that more developments and advocates are realized so that it can be possible to raise more funds which will not only be aimed in addressing issues of health but all the other issues which might be playing a greater role in hindering economic development. References Borzycki, M. & Makkai, T. (2007). Prisoner reintegration Post-release. Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology Press. Burnettt, R. & Maruna, S. (2006). ‘The Kindness of Prisoners: Strengths-based Resettlement in Theory and in Action’, Criminology and Criminal Justice 6(1), 83-106. California Board of Corrections. (2000). Improving California’s response to mentally ill offenders: An analysis of county-identified needs. Retrieved: http://www.bdcorr.ca.gov/cppd/mioanalysis/mio_lpa.pdf Dorothy, E. & Logie, M. (2008). ‘Innovations in Health System: Looking to the Future,” The Lancet 372(9), 256–26. Dilip, R. & Suhas, K. (2008). Innovative financing for development. Cengage: Cengage Learning. 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