Blog: CUGH 2021 – Opportunity to hear from experts in the field of global health
I had the great pleasure a couple of weeks ago to attend the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) 2021 Virtual Conference. It was refreshing to listen to experts in the global health field. As a future health professional, I appreciated the opportunity to see experts in the field engaged in addressing modern global health challenges.
The past year and a half have been a real challenge for everyone. The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken our everyday routine and the way we interact with each other. At the same time, the pandemic has exposed vulnerabilities in our preparedness and response strategies. However, the CUGH conference has reinforced that we need to continue working on making our planet safer for humans, animals, and the environment.
Prior to the pandemic, Latin American countries struggled to address health problems due to power dynamics, lack of proper funding, and inequalities in health within their nations. After listening to the session on “Addressing the Social Determinants of Health during the Pandemic in Latin America and the Caribbean,” it became clear that nations in the Latin America region experience similar challenges in reaching health equity and equality. Dr. Paulo Buss, director of the Center for Global Health in the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, outlined the structural dimensions that plague Brazil’s inequalities. Additionally, Dr. Buss spoke of the political tensions in Brazil. This tension has hindered the ability of the Brazilian government to effectively address the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, Brazil is considered the epicenter of the pandemic due to high daily death rates and the potential emergence of variants.
However, Brazil is not the only country experiencing challenges due to the pandemic. In the same session, Dr. Rocio Sáenz, former Minister of Health of Costa Rica, discussed the existing gaps in the health systems of Costa Rica. For instance, Dr. Sáenz shared that Costa Rica is experiencing gaps in education, proper funding in the health system, and trained health professionals. These gaps have further strained an already fragile health system. Also, Dr. Sáenz mentioned something that had a profound effect on me. She mentioned that the suffering that citizens experience goes beyond the number of deaths and illnesses. The pandemic has directly affected the overall well-being and mental health of individuals.
The overall lesson to be learned from these health experts is to address the existing barriers and gaps in the Latin American health systems. Structural change is needed to ensure individuals have access to adequate health services. Additionally, Latin American countries deserve better response and support in vaccinations and medical supplies, not only in times of health crises. Moreover, organizations like the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and Organization of American States (OAS) should have a greater role in supporting the health equality and equity objectives of Latin American countries.
In the end, for any effective change to happen there needs to be proper funding in the health systems of these nations and a collaborative effort from leaders and government officials to address the causes of inequalities.
Yarielka Arrieta Batista serves as 2020/2021 Graduate Intern for the Office of Global One Health. She is pursuing a joint Master of Public Health and Master of International Affairs at Texas A&M University.