Communicable diseases pose a serious threat to the survival of humanity since they cause considerable number as they are highly infectious. In particular, the poor, the elderly, children, and women are the most vulnerable. Data obtained from Baltimore county public health (zip code 21201) suggests that communicable diseases account for the deaths of young adults and children in many communities.
The major aim of Healthy People 2020 Initiative is to reduce the effects of communicable diseases which are known to interfere with socio-economic development of the community. The objectives of the initiative suggest that an environment that supports health should be created in all countries. This requires the creation of adequate technical and institutional support which is critical in achieving a disease free society. Therefore, the reduction of the effects of the disease entails development of strong strategies, such as formulation of evidence-based goals and providing adequate support to developing regions. It also requires detailed planning and forecasting.
Measles
Measles is a communicable disease that is considered as one of the killer diseases particularly among children in developing regions. The disease is preventable through immunization but communities lack suitable human and capital resources to completely eliminate the threat the disease poses. The effects of measles are long term or short term depending on the period of exposure.
Research studies suggest that measles causes diarrhoea, eyes defects, and laryngitis predominantly in children below 7 years. The disease affects the respiratory system, making it weak to an extent that the patient is easily vulnerable to other infections (Nettle, 2009). Health people 2020 has a clearly laid down plan on how to stop the disease from affecting vulnerable members of the community. The initiative recommends several interventions that include; case control, provision of programs related to health, and offering extensive training to volunteers at the community level.
Tuberculosis
The disease interferes with the normal routine of members of a community as it affects the most able members who are mostly bread winners. Thus, families spend a lot of their financial resources in trying to cure the patient. The major impact of the disease is that it interferes with the county’s financial system, as its eradication needs the development of comprehensive programs that demand a lot of capital (Watts, 2003). The healthy people initiative 2020 has an elaborate program that aims keeping off the disease for several years.
Tuberculosis is often spread through coughing and sneezing by an infected person and hence high standards of hygiene and ventilation are encouraged in the public places to prevent spreading of the disease since it is airborne. It is easily identified its main symptom is persistent coughing for more than two weeks.
The initiative has a plan that aims at strengthening sensitization programs in the community and provision of free healthcare since it is due to the high prevalence of the disease is due to lack of information and ignorance.
Flu
Although flu is not a threat to human life, it is considered the most communicable diseases that the county government and other stakeholders in the health sector should eliminate. Its effects on the community include causing other serious complications such as pneumonia and other respiratory tract infections which may require a lot financial resources to cure (Grauss, & Appel, 2003).
The disease complicates the lives of people with asthma, diabetes, and other chronic diseases and it is easily identifiable as it affects the infected individual’s throat, lung and the most common trait is a running trait. The Health people initiative has a strategy that aims at resolving the issue of seasonal flu by educating members of the community on proper hygiene and home remedies.
References
Grauss, H., & Appel, M. (2003). Zoonoses: Infectious Diseases Transmissible from Animals to Humans (3rd ed.). Washington: ASM Press.
Nettle, D. (2009). Ecological influences on human behavioural diversity: A review of recent findings. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 24(11), 618–611.
Watts, D. (2003). Six Degrees: The Science of a Connected Age. London, UK: William Heinemann.