Poverty: Health & Disability Health Issues in the Americas by Andy 1. What are the main issues for this topic? Although the health issues faced in the countries of the Americas vary nationally and regionally, they can best be discussed when divided into issues affecting developed countries and issues affecting developing countries. Developed countries have used science to cure many of the illnesses that once plaqued them. New vaccines and treatments are now available for a plethora of diseases that were once deadly. The health issues currently facing developed countries of the Americas are becoming increasingly psychological and less biological. Among youth things such as gas sniffing and suicide are major concerns. Undeveloped countries still face many of the disease that developed countries have already conquered. In many cases, vaccines or medication are not as readily available as they would be to someone living in a developed country. However, even without medication unnecessary illness can be eliminated by information sharing. 2. What are some regional examples of these issues? Recently in Newfoundland, Canada approximately 30 youth were removed from their rural communities to be treated for sniffing gas. Gas sniffing has been an ongoing problem for these communities and despite the best efforts of community and government officials remains so. The Pan-American Health Organization (www.paho.org) in conjunction with the American Red Cross implemented the “Healthy Children Goal 2002 Initiative” to reduce the number of easily preventable deaths in children under the age of 5 years in 10 developing countries throughout the Americas. The current mortality rate of children under 5 years has reached 200,000 per year. Recent data shows that this rate is continuing to drop in all countries. Currently, 75% of children taken to a health service suffer from an illness that we know how to control. In developing countries, 70% of deaths in children are due to one or more of these controllable illnesses. 3. How does this issue affect me (at the personal level)? 4. How does this issue affect youth in my community? 5. How does this issue affect youth in the Americas? Sources used in the creation of this article: 1. Pan-American Health Organization www.paho.org The Pan-American Health Organization's web page. Interesting info on health issues in the Americas 2. Health Canada www.healthcanada.ca 3. Unicef www.unicef.org