Essentials of Global Health

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/essentials-global-health

Introduction

# Course Review: Essentials of Global Health on Coursera In today's interconnected world, understanding global health issues is more crucial than ever. The course **Essentials of Global Health**, offered through Coursera, provides a comprehensive introduction to this vital field, making it a highly recommended choice for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of health challenges on a global scale. ## Overview This course is designed with clarity and structure in mind, aiming to answer vital questions about global health: What causes illness, disability, and mortality? Who are the most affected groups? Why are these issues noteworthy? And importantly, what can be done to address these health challenges effectively and sustainably? The curriculum is organized into six comprehensive modules, each building on the last to create a holistic view of global health concerns. ### Module Breakdown #### Module 1: Introduction This introductory module sets the stage by familiarizing participants with basic concepts and key perspectives in global health. It highlights the major actors in this field, including public health organizations and NGOs, and explains their roles and functions. #### Module 2: The Burden of Disease In this module, learners will delve into the world's health status and the demographic factors influencing it. The focus is on understanding what people suffer from, the risk factors involved, and how these elements contribute to the overall burden of disease. #### Module 3: Health Systems and Value for Money in Health The third module addresses health systems worldwide and the concept of “value for money” in health investments. It explores various organizational structures of health systems, the challenges they face, and the innovative solutions being implemented to enhance cost-effectiveness while providing quality care. #### Module 4: Cross-Cutting Themes in Global Health (Parts I-III) Spanning three parts, this module examines key themes such as environmental health, humanitarian emergencies, and nutrition. It also emphasizes the health of vulnerable populations, particularly focusing on women, children, and adolescents, with a dedicated session on childhood immunization. #### Module 5: Critical Causes of Illness and Death (Parts I-III) This module looks closely at both communicable and non-communicable diseases, as well as injuries. Each session provides an in-depth analysis of the conditions, their respective burdens, and effective interventions that can be implemented at a low cost to tackle these health issues. #### Module 6: Looking Forward In the final module, learners explore future global health challenges, emphasizing the role of science and technology in addressing these issues through collective action. This forward-thinking approach equips students with insights into how to prepare for and respond to emerging health threats. ## Conclusion and Recommendations **Essentials of Global Health** is a fantastic investment for students, professionals, or anyone interested in public health, policy-making, or global health issues. The course’s format is engaging, the material is accessible, and the focus on real-world applications makes it particularly valuable. The course not only imparts critical knowledge but also encourages participants to think critically about how to apply this information to real-world health challenges. I wholeheartedly recommend this course for its rich content, structured approach, and the opportunity to engage in important discussions about global health issues. Whether you want to enhance your career prospects in global health or simply deepen your understanding of the issues that affect human health worldwide, this Coursera course offers the essential knowledge and skills to make a tangible difference. Don't miss the opportunity to be part of this important learning experience!

Syllabus

Module 1: Introduction

This module introduces you to the course, some of the basic concepts of global health, and a number of key perspectives for considering global health issues. This module will also introduce you to the key actors in global health and the different ways in which they are organized and function.

Module 2 focuses on the “burden of disease”. It first examines the state of the world’s health. It then introduces you to key demographic factors and how they relate to global health. It concludes with several sessions that examine what people get sick, disabled and die from and to what risk factors and determinants these conditions can be attributed.

Module 3 focuses on health systems. It first examines the notion of “value for money” in considering investments in health. It then reviews how health systems in different parts of the world are organized; some of the issues they face in effectively and efficiently providing appropriate services of acceptable quality; and what we are learning can be done to address those issues in cost-effective ways.

Module 4 focuses on some of the most important cross-cutting themes in global health. These include the relationship between the environment and health, complex humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters and health, and nutrition and health. They also include an assessment of the health of women, children, and adolescents. A single session is devoted exclusively to childhood immunization.

Module 4 focuses on some of the most important cross-cutting themes in global health. These include the relationship between the environment and health, complex humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters and health, and nutrition and health. They also include an assessment of the health of women, children, and adolescents. A single session is devoted exclusively to childhood immunization.

Module 4 focuses on some of the most important cross-cutting themes in global health. These include the relationship between the environment and health, complex humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters and health, and nutrition and health. They also include an assessment of the health of women, children, and adolescents. A single session is devoted exclusively to childhood immunization.

Module 5 focuses on critical causes of illness, disability, and death. It first examines communicable diseases, such as emerging infectious diseases, HIV, TB, malaria, and the neglected tropical diseases. It then reviews key issues in noncommunicable diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes. It concludes with a look at injuries. Each session examines the nature of the condition; its burden of disease; the determinants and risk factors for the condition; who is most affected by it; and what we have learned can be done to address the condition in cost-effective ways.

Module 5 focuses on critical causes of illness, disability, and death. It first examines communicable diseases, such as emerging infectious diseases, HIV, TB, malaria, and the neglected tropical diseases. It then reviews key issues in noncommunicable diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes. It concludes with a look at injuries. Each session examines the nature of the condition; its burden of disease; the determinants and risk factors for the condition; who is most affected by it; and what we have learned can be done to address the condition in cost-effective ways.

Module 5 focuses on critical causes of illness, disability, and death. It first examines communicable diseases, such as emerging infectious diseases, HIV, TB, malaria, and the neglected tropical diseases. It then reviews key issues in noncommunicable diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes. It concludes with a look at injuries. Each session examines the nature of the condition; its burden of disease; the determinants and risk factors for the condition; who is most affected by it; and what we have learned can be done to address the condition in cost-effective ways.

Module 6 focuses on the likely global health challenges of the next few decades and how science and technology can be harnessed, though collective action, to address those challenges.