Global Public Health and the Challenge of HIV

Assignment Brief

Assessment task: Essay

Critically examine one key global public health issue, the key factors influencing it, the role of global institutions, and the global health policies and programmes developed to tackle them.

ESSAY OUTLINE

• Introduction

• Background

  • What is global public health? Definition, criticisms, key themes and issues about what global public health means…

  • Define your global health issue (malaria, diabetes…)

  • What it is

  • What health effects there are at a person,  community, and global levels. Also discuss  the social, economic and environmental effects (determinants) that then affect health.  

• Why is your global health issue important?

  • Use global statistics on your global health issue  (and regional if you think its relevant).

  • Discuss key trends in how that issue has developed over time (past, present, future).

  • What  are the main global drivers of your global health issue.

• How is your global health issue being tackled (from a public health perspective)

  • What is the global policy related to your global health issue

  • Who are the key global actors (could also be regional and national) relevant to your global health issue and what do they do, what role do they play?

  • Identify key prevention approaches that are currently used to tackle your global health issue (where appropriate you can discuss early diagnosis and prevention - prophylactic - medical treatment as prevention approaches) 

  • What criticisms are being made about the policy, actors and prevention approaches.

  • What evaluations have been carried out on the policy and prevention approaches and what did they find.

  • What are new prevention approaches are being researched currently.

• Conclusion

  • Wrap up of your opinion and thinking on future policies and approaches.

THE GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES HAVE CHOOSEN IS HIV

Sample Answer

Global Public Health and the Challenge of HIV

Introduction

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains one of the world’s most persistent global health challenges. Despite significant advances in treatment and prevention, it continues to affect millions of people worldwide, disproportionately impacting low- and middle-income countries. The fight against HIV encapsulates many of the defining features of global public health, transnational cooperation, social and economic inequality, and the interplay between policy, science, and human rights.

This essay critically examines HIV as a global public health issue by exploring its determinants, the role of global institutions, the policies developed to tackle it, and the evolving prevention strategies shaping its future.

Understanding Global Public Health

Global public health refers to the collective effort to prevent disease, promote health, and extend life expectancy across populations worldwide. It emphasises transnational collaboration because many health issues, such as pandemics, climate change, and antimicrobial resistance, transcend national borders. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines global health as an area of study and practice that “places a priority on improving health and achieving equity in health for all people worldwide.”

However, critics argue that global health can reflect power imbalances, often dominated by high-income countries and donor agencies that set agendas without sufficient input from the communities most affected. Issues such as funding dependency and cultural insensitivity have led to debates about whether global health genuinely represents equity or perpetuates inequality.

Defining HIV as a Global Health Issue

HIV is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system, specifically targeting CD4 cells, which are vital for fighting infections. If untreated, HIV progresses to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), a condition where the immune system becomes severely compromised.

Globally, around 39 million people were living with HIV by the end of 2023, with 1.3 million new infections recorded that year (UNAIDS, 2024). Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most affected region, accounting for approximately two-thirds of all global cases. While antiretroviral therapy (ART) has transformed HIV from a fatal disease into a manageable chronic condition, challenges persist in prevention, treatment access, and stigma reduction.

At the individual level, HIV leads to severe health complications and psychological distress. At the community level, it strains families, healthcare systems, and social support networks. At the global level, the epidemic continues to hinder economic growth and development, particularly in countries with already fragile infrastructures.

The Importance of HIV as a Global Health Concern

HIV is not only a medical issue but a social and economic one. The virus disproportionately affects marginalised populations, including women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those living in poverty. It amplifies inequality and often reflects underlying social determinants such as education, gender discrimination, and access to healthcare.

The economic consequences are significant: labour productivity declines, healthcare costs rise, and families lose income due to illness and caregiving responsibilities. The World Bank has highlighted that countries with high HIV prevalence experience slower GDP growth rates, reflecting the long-term developmental implications of the epidemic.

Trends and Global Drivers of HIV

Since its discovery in the early 1980s, HIV has evolved from a mysterious, stigmatised illness into one of the most studied diseases in history. Early responses were marked by fear, misinformation, and discrimination, particularly against homosexual men and intravenous drug users. However, the introduction of ART in the mid-1990s revolutionised treatment outcomes, leading to a dramatic decline in AIDS-related deaths.

In recent years, the global focus has shifted from crisis management to long-term control and eventual elimination. The UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, ensuring that 95% of people with HIV know their status, 95% of those diagnosed receive treatment, and 95% of those treated achieve viral suppression, have become the guiding benchmark for global efforts.

The main drivers of HIV today include poverty, gender inequality, lack of education, stigma, and unequal access to healthcare. Social and economic marginalisation continues to limit the effectiveness of prevention and treatment programmes, particularly in regions with weak health infrastructures.

Continued...