Priorities in Global Health

This course analyzes leading health challenges in low- and middle-income countries and the global health system intended to help countries address them. Students learn about the causes and impact of these health problems and develop strategies for addressing them in particular settings. They become familiar with the national and international organizations responsible for setting health policies and for funding and implementing health programs. In addition, they learn to analyze the social, economic, and political factors that influence resource allocation and contribute to the rise of some global health priorities and relative neglect of others. The course focuses on responses to specific health problems in specific settings while analyzing the effects of global trends and international actors.  The course draws on the expertise of invited speakers from a broad range of organizations involved in global health, including UN agencies, NGOs, and funders. These speakers are chosen not only for their knowledge but for their experience in setting policy and in designing and managing programs in the field. The first half of the course focuses primarily on conventional disease priorities, the health problems that have been the primary focus of global health institutions and funders, which include water and sanitation, nutrition, maternal and child health, and infectious disease. The course then turns to a range of emerging priorities such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, mental health, injuries, and the effects of climate change on health.