Terms to Know in Global Health

In September 2000, the United Nations issued its Millennium Declaration in support of its world development goals, which are aimed at combating poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation and discrimination against women. There are two major United Nations initiatives in place that support this declaration: the eight Millennium Development Goals established in 2000 that had a goal year of 2015 and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals that are a transition from the millennium goals to catalyze continued development through 2030. As the U.N. notes, “The eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) — which range from halving extreme poverty rates to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education…form a blueprint agreed to by all the world’s countries and all the world’s leading development institutions. They have galvanized unprecedented efforts to meet the needs of the world’s poorest.” The U.N. launched the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in January of 2016.

The term “developing nations” refers to countries with “a low standard of living, generally indicated by severe poverty, low income and education levels, high birth rate, and poorly developed social, economic, and technological infrastructure.” Many countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Oceania are referred to in this context. According to the World Health Organization, environmental factors in developing nations are a root cause of “a significant burden of death, disease and disability.” Such factors include “poor water quality, availability and sanitation; vector-borne diseases; poor ambient and indoor air quality; toxic substances; and global environmental change.”