Spread of Worldwide Diseases, Essay Example

Globalization involves the process of international integration resulting from the exchange of cultural aspects like ideas, economic resources among other transferable elements. In essence, globalization works towards promoting a general integration and exchange of economic, political, and social elements across the globe. Because of improved infrastructure and post-modernization, globalization moves towards its peak in the 21’TH century. Exchange of these elements across societies in the world brings about both positive and negative effects in the society. With respect to positive effects, globalization presents an opportunity for economic growth through trade partnerships. On the other hand, social aspects like spread of diseases and other health matters dominates the list of negative effects caused by globalization. In order to counteract the negative effects of globalization, nations have devised numerous mechanisms through unilateral and multilateral mechanisms. Example of illustrational spread of disease is the Swine Flu incident in 2009 and the profound spread of HIV across the global village. In this case, we will extrapolate the discussion by appraising the role of globalization in the spread of these two diseases.

Studies suggest that globalization is responsible for the witnessed rapid spread of HIV/AIDS virus around the globe. Globalization facilitates easier and massive movement of people from one nation to another. In addition, the element of globalization brings about exchange of cultural practices and beliefs[i]. In the end, interaction of people from diverse cultural background may promote development of risky behaviors. Such behaviors include unconventional sexual relations and drug abuse[ii]. These two undesirable behaviors are associated with playing the primary role of spreading HIV/AIDS virus. On the other hand, spread of Swine Flu in 2009 lies centrally on the liberalized movement of people from one region to another. Swine Flu was first reported in Mexico, and grew to a national epidemic level within the first four weeks. Between this short growth periods, there had been movement of people from Mexico to other parts of the world like Europe and America[iii]. Upon acknowledgement of the disease, there was a significant decrease of travels because of the international outbreak.

In an effort to address the spread of diseases associated with globalization, state and national governments are working on policies to curb this pandemic. Various instances witness the use of multilateral means in tackling the problem while other instances approaches matter through unilateral mechanisms. With respect to multilateral approaches, many nations stipulate that foreigners entering their territories must possess records of their health status. This ensures that national authorities acknowledge the number of HIV positive foreigners entering the country. Acknowledgement of such statistics facilitates development of prevention programs through systems like public education and counseling. However, application of multicultural mechanisms undermines the universal advocacy for human rights. Prejudice caused by medical conditions results in social injustice towards the identified victims. Therefore, many nations have reverted to unilateral prevention programs. The most effective methods employed by state agencies in preventing spread of HIV are public education. Education programs supplements the public with information concerning the nature of HIV as an immunodeficiency virus. In the process, the public will see the sense of engaging in safe sexual practices. As an illustrational context, the US state of Michigan apportions approximately $2500000 to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. These funds aids execution of community based research programs and provision of public information regarding actual status of HIV in the society. Other infrastructures developed by state authorities to address spread of HIV include capacity building, provision of a free hotline and free technical assistance concerning HIV testing.

In order to satisfactorily address the issue of HIV/Aids spread in the society, state authorities require various policies and resources. These policies and resources should aim at curbing the spread of diseases through globalization. In the context of multilateral platforms, involved states should formulate policies relating to health matters. Two or more states can reach an agreement to share health information of their citizens. This will ensure that concerned stakeholders like HIV prevention centers ascertain the threat posed by globalization on spread of AIDS. Resources needed at this level include funds and infrastructure to establish secretariat organizations meant to facilitate smooth flow of health information between involved government institutions. Despite lack of such policies in addressing spread of diseases, other national governments have structured systems meant to prevent spread of the disease within the society[iv]. In the incident of Mexican Swine Flu, the Mexican government, through its relevant ministry, lacked technological capacity to validate the strains caused by the flu. In the process, the government had to send samples to Canadian Ministry of Health for analysis. This procedure took approximately one week, upon which spread of the Flu intensified. This situation highlights the need to develop effective technology meant to detect threats associated with epidemics like the one in subject.

Other national governments have gone further into developing social programs meant to mitigate effects of such health issues related to globalization. In the American state of Colorado, the health ministry have formulates HIV insurance program for members living with HIV/ADIS. This insurance policy helps residents of the state to source AIDS medication in heath care institutions on an outpatient program. In this case, the agency serves to link individuals with AIDS with appropriate medical care providers in the health care industry. Apart from the assistance policy, other social security programs secure the effects of family members when faced with a death of their bread winner due to HIV/AIDS. Therefore, it provides an economic and financial cushion to members affected by HIV/AIDS deaths. In this context, all these approaches require financial resources from national government budgets and other funding agencies. In this context, unilateral prevention and control measures seem to focus on contextual and practical mechanisms while multilateral programs addresses the issue from a general perspective. In this regard, disease spread caused by globalization can be addressed effectively through unilateral measures.

[i] Thakur Ramesh. The United Nations, Peace and Security: From Collective Security to the Responsibility to Protect. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2010.

[ii] Wessels, Walter, J. Economics. New Jersey, NJ: Barron’s Educational Series, 2006.

[iii] Lawson, Tony.”The current economic crisis: Its nature and the course of academic economics”. Cambridge Journal of Economics, 33 (2011): 759-762.

[iv] Lawson, Tony.”The current economic crisis: Its nature and the course of academic economics”. Cambridge Journal of Economics, 33 (2011): 759-762.