What is global health and what are the main challenges facing infectious diseases?

Global health (or international health) refers to a vital discipline aimed at improving the health of all people worldwide, with a primary focus on reducing health disparities that transcend national borders. In today's interconnected world, the spread of diseases is not confined to any single country or region; intensive international travel and rapid growth in densely populated urban areas facilitate the transmission of germs and pathogens between countries at an unprecedented speed [3]. Contemporary challenges facing global health include increasing antimicrobial resistance to drugs such as antibiotics, the impacts of climate change, and the lack of access to essential resources like safe food and clean drinking water, all of which exacerbate health burdens on disadvantaged communities [3].

Vaccination Coverage Challenges

Vaccines remain one of the most successful interventions in public health history for preventing fatal diseases, yet significant gaps in global coverage persist. In 2025, data indicates that 13.5 million children did not receive the first dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) vaccine. This represents a challenge in accessing essential health services and leaves these children, known as "zero-dose children," vulnerable to risks from preventable diseases [1]. Fifty-three percent of these unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children are concentrated in just ten countries, reflecting a deep gap in national health systems [1]. Furthermore, global coverage for the first dose of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine remains at only 33%, which is still far from the ambitious global target of reaching 90% by 2030 [1].

Parasitic Diseases and Preventive Measures

Beyond viruses and bacteria, neglected tropical diseases continue to pose an ongoing health burden. A prominent example is onchocerciasis (river blindness), a parasitic disease transmitted to humans through repeated bites from blackflies that breed in fast-flowing rivers [2]. This disease leads to severe itching and disfiguring skin changes, as well as visual impairment that can progress to permanent blindness. The current global strategy for eliminating this disease relies on mass drug administration using Ivermectin (Mectizan), where the World Health Organization recommends ensuring at least 80% therapeutic coverage in endemic areas annually for 10 to 15 years to effectively break the parasite's life cycle and eliminate transmission [2].

Response and Local Efforts

Addressing global health challenges requires intensive international and local cooperation to ensure the implementation of sustainable strategies such as the "Immunization Agenda 2030" (IA2030), which aims to strengthen national health systems. For a comprehensive overview of how these global challenges reflect on the local environment and national efforts, you may view our specialized article on Global Health: Infectious Disease Challenges and Their Impact on Jordan (Arabic). Individuals must always check with national healthcare centers for recommended vaccines in their age schedules and seek immediate medical examination if warning signs appear, such as persistent fever, unexplained skin rashes, or symptoms related to skin and eye diseases that may be associated with tropical diseases in endemic travel regions [2].

Medical references

• Immunization coverage
• Onchocerciasis
• Global Health