Treatment of Illness in a Medical Facility Essay.

Health-care facilities are hospitals, primary health-care centres, isolation camps, burn patient units, feeding centres and others. In emergency situations, health-care facilities are often faced with an exceptionally high number of patients, some of whom may require specific medical care (e.g. treatment of chemical poisonings).Treatment of Illness in a Medical Facility Essay.

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The medical aspects of environmental health problems in emergencies involve taking care of the affected people. Often, very specific knowledge about the diagnosis and treatment of effects from hazardous substances is required.Treatment of Illness in a Medical Facility Essay.

The medical management of people following a disaster may involve some or all of the following activities:

• first aid
• assessment and triage of victims in order to prioritize treatment
• decontamination of people exposed to chemicals or radioactive materials
• diagnosis
• special and general supportive medical care
• monitoring and prophylaxis against infection
• long-term follow-up
• psychiatric or psychological support. Treatment of Illness in a Medical Facility Essay.

Where there is a large number of casualties, providing adequate care can be a logistical challenge that demands a high level of resources. The situation may completely overwhelm the capacity of local health-care facilities. It is therefore important to have a well-developed and well-rehearsed preparedness plans in place.Treatment of Illness in a Medical Facility Essay.

Adequate protection for health care providers against contamination and infection is also critically important for an effective medical response

While disease outbreaks and other acute public health risks are often unpredictable and require a range of responses, the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) provide an overarching legal framework that defines countries’ rights and obligations in handling  public health events and emergencies that have the potential to cross borders.Treatment of Illness in a Medical Facility Essay.

The IHR are an instrument of international law that is legally-binding on 196 countries, including the 194 WHO Member States. The IHR  grew out of the response to  deadly epidemics that once overran Europe. They create rights and obligations for countries, including the requirement to report public health events. The Regulations also  outline the criteria to determine whether or not a particular event constitutes a  “public health emergency of international concern”. Treatment of Illness in a Medical Facility Essay.

At the same time, the IHR require countries to designate a National IHR Focal Point for communications with WHO, to establish and maintain core capacities for surveillance and response, including at designated points of entry. Additional provisions address the areas of  international travel and transport such as the health documents required for international traffic.Treatment of Illness in a Medical Facility Essay.

Finally, the IHR introduce important safeguards to protect the rights of travellers and other persons in relation to the treatment of personal data, informed consent and non-discrimination in the application of health measures under the Regulations.Treatment of Illness in a Medical Facility Essay.

Implementation

The responsibility for implementing the IHR rests upon all States Parties that are bound by the Regulations and on WHO. Governments  are responsible, including all of their sectors, ministries, levels, officials and personnel for implementing IHR at the national level.

WHO plays the coordinating role in IHR implementation and, together with its partners, helps countries to build capacities.Treatment of Illness in a Medical Facility Essay.

The IHR require that all countries have the ability to do the following:

• Detect: Make sure surveillance systems can detect acute public health events  in timely matter
• Assess and report: Use the decision instrument in Annex 2 of the IHR to assess public health event and report to WHO through their National IHR Focal Point those that may constitute a public health emergency of international concern
• Respond: Respond to public health risks and emergencies

The goal of country implementation is to limit the spread of health risks to neighbouring countries and to prevent unwarranted travel and trade restrictions.

Preparedness

To support countries in strengthening and maintaining their capacities for ensuring rapid detection, verification and response to public health risks, WHO develops and provides tools, guidance and training.Treatment of Illness in a Medical Facility Essay.

WHO’s support focuses on the priority needs identified by the WHO Regional and Country Offices, in order to help each country meet its IHR commitment. This includes:

• designating WHO IHR Contact Points at the headquarters or the regional level;
• conducting global public health surveillance and assessment of significant public health events;
• disseminating public health information to Member States;
• offering technical assistance to Member States;
• supporting Member States in their efforts to assess their existing national public health structures and capacities for surveillance and response, including at designated points of entry;
• monitoring the implementation of IHR (2005) and updating guidelines; and
• if required, determining whether or not a particular event constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), with advice from external experts.Treatment of Illness in a Medical Facility Essay.

If a PHEIC is declared, WHO develops and recommends the critical health measures for implementation by Member States during such an emergency.

CONCLUSION

We pursue a healthier environment by strengthening health sector leadership, building mechanisms for political and social support and monitoring progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals regarding environmental threats to health.Treatment of Illness in a Medical Facility Essay.

The Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health (ECH) within the overall work of WHO strives to promote a healthier environment, intensify primary prevention and influence public policies in all sectors. The Department also works to strengthen health sector leadership, governance and coordination, build mechanisms for political and social support and monitor progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals to address the root causes of environmental threats to health. ECH develops and promotes preventive policies and interventions based on an understanding and an in-depth scientific analysis of the evidence base for environmental determinants of human health.Treatment of Illness in a Medical Facility Essay.

By focusing on reducing environmental and social risk factors, nearly a quarter of the global burden of disease can be prevented. Examples include promoting safe household water storage, better hygiene measures and safer management of toxic substances in the home and workplace. Through cooperation with sectors such as energy, transport and agriculture, root environmental and social causes of ill-health can be addressed that lie beyond the direct control of the health sector.Treatment of Illness in a Medical Facility Essay.

The Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health (ECH) within the overall work of WHO has 6 key objectives. These include:

• Primary prevention: to scale up action on health determinants for health protection and improvement in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
• Cross-sectoral action: to act on determinants of health in all policies and in all sectors
• Strengthened health sector: to strengthen health sector leadership, governance and coordination roles
• Building support: to build mechanisms for governance, and political and social support
• Enhanced evidence and communication: to generate the evidence base on risks and solutions, and to efficiently communicate that information to guide choices and investments
• Monitoring: to guide actions by monitoring progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.Treatment of Illness in a Medical Facility Essay.