PULSE A Global Health Agent

Year One Anniversary Statement

During the last decades, the world has woken up to realize that we live in a global economy.  After the bust of the housing bubble, no one can ignore the fact that the greed of investors coupled with the naiveté in chasing the American dream of owning a home was at the origin of the global financial meltdown of 2008.  More recently, the debt woes of a lesser economy in Greece is threatening the return to another recession.

The healthcare sector in the US seems to be the go-to area for securing a job during this time of uncertainty and high unemployment.  Without going into the details of healthcare reform and the threat of repealing Obamacare, the landscape is ever-changing while stakeholders are poised to minimize their losses in an era    where super-capitalism is the only winning option.  Yes, it is a changing world and the international health  community must find ways to secure a better future.  We think of a global economy; likewise, health care must not be less regarded.

Global health work is no longer an issue of humanitarian missions or just a token for social corporate responsibility.  A rebuilding nation, Liberia, has found new meaning in the commitment to social contract by investing in universal health care for liberians.  Since then, the Liberian government has gained the trust of international support [1].  No longer should we be satisfied, counting a list of accomplished international missions. but rather direct the energy towards accomplishing the healthcare related millennium development Goals (MDG) launched by the UN more than 20 years ago.  Some measure of successes has been reached but much more needs to be done. 

PULSE, a group of global health-minded individuals adopted these concept goals and aligned themselves to play their role for a ‘healthier future in a changing world’, particularly in low income-countries.  PULSEans take the challenge of the UN to end poverty in 2015 with the Millenium Development Goals (MDG). Of the eight, we embrace goal #4 [Child Health] as a global health initiative, believing that we can make a difference by addressing health inequalities, increasing access to healthcare, forming partnerships with multiple sectors, building and strengthening local capacity and promoting sustainability.  Here are some of the bold efforts in which you can join our mission to make this goal achievable.

To bring critical care to low income countries by developing pediatric intensive care units.

Most of us have gained expertise in high-income countries where thousands of dollars are spent in a single day in rescuing one child.  Often, we have pushed the envelope, motivated by the prospect of “doing everything” to buy time for a miracle to happen.  According to the UN (MDG#4), poverty preys on the vulnerable and defenseless.  In low-income countries, one out of ten children dies before the age of five.  In wealthier nations, this number is only 1 out of 143. We believe that every child deserves a chance.  By bringing a level of intensive care to resource-limited settings, the gap of inequality in  health care for children can be closed.

To increase access to health care

The world is facing the challenge of a shortage of health care professionals.  This situation coupled with the numerous financial crises has made it more difficult for medicines and health consultations to reach the more vulnerable.  Telemedicine is an essential tool capable of decreasing the cost and risk of traveling for patients and local health care professionals to have access to vital consultation.  Often, simple modifications in the plan care can avoid needless deaths or crippling diseases to children.  The development of this technology is in its infancy but has been growing very fast.  We PULSEans are hooked on the use of telemedicine and believe that research development will soon allow this instrument to be used ubiquitously in remote areas.

Building local capacity

To date, PULSE is well on the way to meet the annual goal of training 100 local physician and nurses.  Our volunteer instructors have certified these health care workers in the principles of pediatric early assessment recognition and stabilization (PEARS), pediatric advanced life support (PALS) and the pediatric fundamentals of critical care support (PFCCS).  These are recognized programs by the American Heart Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Society of Critical Care Medicine.

During these missions in Haiti, Kenya we have been able to provide hands-on bedside training that have the potential to elicit tangible positive outcomes.  In both countries have also emerged local trainers of these course that will help to strengthen the capacity of local nurses and doctors who will be able to take care of sicker children. 

Sustainability

It is not enough to train and educate without having local sustainability.  A significant amount of the groundwork done by PULSEans is dedicated to achieve buy-in to a low cost concept of ‘intensive care’.  As we know it in the US, a child in the ICU is seen attached to many tubes and life-sustaining machines amounting to a daily cost that far exceeds the yearly income of the parent in a low-income country.  The only alternative in this context is prevention and anticipation.  We enforce the knowledge that constant monitoring, early recognition, simple interventions can avoid the complications and downward spiral often observed when a treatable infectious disease or diarrheal illness becomes overwhelming.  Nearly 11 million children under the age of 5 die in the world every year - well over 1200 every hour, most from easily preventable or treatable causes.

A multi-sectorial approach is necessary for any success in this endeavor.  Volunteer PULSEans are not only health care workers.  We enlist the help of marketing specialists, graphic designers, social media experts, financial advisors, information technologists and many more.  We invite you to embrace the cause.  We need the help of no less than all who care about making a healthier future for less fortunate children of the world. 

[1] Berman, R. J. and Hughes, J. (Summer 2011) Post-Conflict Liberia Reconstructing the Health Sector.  Global health magazine 11, 16-19.  www.globalhealthmagazine.com