Healthy People 2020 Essay

Why is Healthy People 2020 an important national health initiative? What are proposed changes for Healthy People 2030?

Healthy People 2020 is an important national health initiation because it encourages self-care activates that promote a healthy lifestyle. Healthy People 2020 uses scientific data to establish a guideline that promotes patient literacy, disease prevention, and healthy lifestyle changes. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the mission of Healthy People 2020 is to, “increase public awareness and understanding of the determinants of health, disease, and disability and the opportunities for progress” (Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2014). Public awareness is the first step in disease prevention. A lack of public awareness can lead to

widespread epidemics, underreporting, negative sigma’s, and can even lead to death. Healthy People 2020 is striving to decrease mortality in chronic illness by “promoting quality of life, healthy development, and healthy behaviors across all life stages” (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2014).

The proposed changes for Healthy People 2030 is to clarify the mission and goals of Healthy People 2020. An additional goal for Health People 2030 is to, “Eliminate health disparities, achieve health equity, and attain health literacy to improve the health and well-being of all” (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2014). More research will target areas with poor healthcare to enhance their quality of care in these communities.

Critical Thinking Activities
Visit this WHO site: Global Health Estimates
What can you learn about global life expectancy, mortality, and the burden of disease?

How does the United States compare with other countries?

Research that analyzes global life expectancy, mortality and diseases enhance our understanding of the impact that the health care, the economy, and environment have on a population. By identifying trends and contributing factors that lead to disease; healthcare personnel can develop preventive measures to ensure the safety of the public. For example, tuberculosis is a contagious infectious disease that usually affects the lung. According to the Department of Information, Evidence and Research WHO, Geneva (2017), “Lower respiratory infections remained the deadliest communicable disease, causing 3.2 million deaths worldwide in 2015. Tuberculosis death rate decreased during the same period, but the disease was still among the top 10 causes of death in 2015 with a death toll of 1.4 million. This affected mainly small countries.” Using this data, we can implement immunizations, screenings, and preventive teaching that can decrease the death toll in these

countries.

However, in the United State, there was a “2.9% decrease in cases of tuberculosis” (Department of Information, Evidence and Research WHO, Geneva, 2017). The decline is associated with a number of factors such as improved laboratory diagnostic methods, improved training for healthcare providers, immunizations, and funding for research. The United States spends millions on drug research and developing plans to eliminate TB in the United States.