Global issues in health care have recently become a major challenge facing the health sector. Global issues include increased mortality and morbidity due to the rising disease burden of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and poverty among others. Assessment of disease burden by use of the various summary measures used in health data management is important in monitoring the trend of the health status of the people

The essential elements used in the assessment of the disease burden are the ‘disease outcome’ and the ‘risk factors’. Obtaining data on the risk factors in a low-income country is most challenging because of the difficulty in assessment and evaluation of the risk factors. The summary measures used to measure the burden of disease include Healy (Healthy Life Years), DALYs (Disability Adjusted Life Years) and the records of the traditional indicators such as mortality records. (Murray and Lopez, 1996, & Hyder et al. 1998). Healy and DALYs summary measures are better than the traditional methods because they are easy to explain their concept of measurement, and their units of expected years of life are more meaningful.

As the Minister of Health of a Sub-Saharan African Country, I would organize national health education and prevention campaign against HIV/AIDS. I would also ensure adequate numbers of condoms are distributed to the persons of reproductive age group to promote safe sex. As the community leader, I would carry out the national strategies set by the Ministry of health and organize open forums with the community to discuss cultural beliefs and traditions that promote spread of HIV/AIDs.

In conclusion, this paper has outlined the essential elements of disease burden assessment and their summary measures. It has also highlighted the prevention strategies for HIV/AIDS and how to discuss the cultural beliefs associated with HIV/AIDs.

References

Hyder, A., Rotllanat, G., & Morrow, R. H. (1998). Measuring the Burden of Disease: Healthy Life-Years. American Journal of Public Health, 88(2):196-202.

Murray, C. J., & Lopez, A. D., (1996). The global burden of disease: a comprehensive assessment of mortality and disability from diseases, injuries and risk factors in 1990 and projected to 2020. Global Burden of Disease and Injury Series, Vol. 1. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.