7. Unsafe products
Nearly one-third of today’s global disease burden is attributed to a lack of food, unsafe food, and unhealthy diets, according to WHO. WHO said while food insecurity and hunger continue to be an issue, there also is a growing number of people who have diets that are high in fat or sugar, leading to a rise in weight- and diet-related diseases. Further, there’s been an increase in tobacco and e-cigarette use in most countries, raising additional health concerns.
WHO said it is looking to combat health risks related to unsafe foods and other products by “working with countries to develop evidence-based public policies, investments, and private sector reforms to reshape food systems and provide healthy and sustainable diets,” and “to build political commitment and capacity to strengthen implementation of evidence-based tobacco control policies.”
8. Underinvestment in health workers
There is a shortage of health workers around the world because of low pay and chronic underinvestment in health workers’ education and employment, WHO said. According to WHO, the shortages negatively affect health systems’ sustainability and jeopardize health and social care services. An additional 18 million health workers, including nine million nurses and midwives, will be needed across the world by 2030, according to WHO.
WHO said the World Health Assembly has designated 2020 as the “Year of the Nurse and the Midwife” in an effort to spur “action and encourage investment in education, skills, and jobs” for health care workers. In addition, WHO said it is working with countries to generate new investments to ensure health care workers are trained and paid “decent salaries.”