Global Health and its associated concepts

Global health is an interdisciplinary field that addresses health issues transcending national boundaries, emphasizing equity, collaboration, and the interconnectedness of health determinants worldwide. Understanding global health requires exploring its key concepts, historical evolution, and the social, economic, and environmental factors that influence health outcomes across populations. This course introduces learners to foundational principles, including epidemiologic transitions, global burden of disease, social determinants of health, and sustainable development goals (SDGs). By highlighting the distinction between global health and international health, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how global health initiatives are designed, prioritized, and implemented to improve health outcomes for communities around the world.

This module provides a comprehensive foundation in global health, exploring its key concepts, scope, and relevance in today’s interconnected world. It introduces participants to the fundamental principles of global health, its historical development, and the factors that shape health outcomes on a global scale. A key focus of this module is to clarify the distinction between global health and international health, helping learners understand how these fields differ in their approach, scope, and priorities.  This module is designed for students and professionals from diverse backgrounds, fostering an interdisciplinary learning environment where participants can discuss, reflect, and collaborate on pressing health issues that affect communities worldwide.