According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 94 million lives can be saved by improving access to healthcare services and interventions in developing countries.
However, to achieve this goal, there are three critical interventions that must be implemented.
1. Immunization
Immunization is one of the most effective public health interventions that has been used to prevent and control infectious diseases.
It involves the administration of vaccines to stimulate the body’s immune system to produce antibodies that can protect against specific diseases.
Immunization has contributed significantly to the reduction of morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases, especially among children in developing countries.
Currently, there are several vaccines that have been developed and are being used to prevent diseases such as measles, polio, tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis.
Despite the progress made in immunization programs, many children in developing countries still do not have access to vaccines. This is mainly due to lack of funding, poor infrastructure, and inadequate healthcare workers.
Therefore, to save the 94 million lives, there is a need to increase funding for immunization programs, improve healthcare infrastructure, and train more healthcare workers to administer vaccines.
2. Maternal and Child Health
Maternal and child health is another critical intervention that can save millions of lives. The health of a mother and her child is closely intertwined, and improving the health of mothers can have a significant impact on the health of their children.
In many developing countries, maternal and child health is still a major challenge, and many mothers and children die from preventable diseases such as malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhoea.
This is mainly due to lack of access to healthcare services, poor nutrition, and inadequate sanitation.
To improve maternal and child health, there is a need to increase funding for maternal and child health programs, improve healthcare infrastructure, and provide education on proper nutrition and sanitation practices.
Additionally, efforts should be made to promote healthy behaviours such as exclusive breastfeeding, immunization, and early detection and treatment of illnesses.
3. Access to Essential Medicines
Access to essential medicines is critical for the prevention and treatment of many diseases, and ensuring availability and affordability of these medicines is necessary to save lives.
Unfortunately, many people in developing countries still do not have access to essential medicines, and this is due to several factors such as lack of funding, weak healthcare systems, and poor supply chain management.
To improve access to essential medicines, there is a need to increase funding for healthcare, strengthen healthcare systems, and improve supply chain management.
Additionally, there should be efforts to promote the use of generic medicines, which are often cheaper and just as effective as branded medicines.
Conclusion
In conclusion, improving access to healthcare services and interventions is critical to saving millions of lives in developing countries.
The three critical interventions that can make a significant impact are immunization, maternal and child health, and access to essential medicines. By investing in these interventions and addressing the challenges that prevent people from accessing them, we can make progress towards achieving the goal of saving 94 million lives.