HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
FOCUS ON COMMUNITIES

Environment which people can develop to full potential

Productive lives

Relevant to needs and interests

Expanding people’s choices

Enhancing capabilities

Access to knowledge (education)

Health (healthcare/services)

Decent standard of living
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Participation (community involvement)

Decision making (empowerment)
SUSTAINABILITY

Meeting present community needs without comprising future generation

Includes social objective (employment, equity, security, education, participation, cultural
inclusion)

Includes economic objective (income, growth, stability)

Includes environmental objective (conservation of natural resources, protection of the
environment, healthy environment, sanitation, etc.)
DIMENSION OF HEALTH
Physical –
Social
–
Mental –
efficient functioning of the body – free from disease, fitness, etc.
able to participate, interact, etc.
state of wellbeing in which individuals realise abilities, cope with
stress, confidence, etc.
Sustainable human development is these concepts combined. The interrelationship
between these provides sustainable human development.
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Such as World Vision Australia, Care
Australia, etc.
Nongovernment
organisations
a high-speed broadband connection for the University of the South Pacific
video-conferencing and internet centres in China, East Timor, PNG and Vietnam
an internet portal to maximise the interchange of information about sustainable
development and poverty reduction
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These NGOs operate at the community level delivering programs on sanitation, clean
water, education and the like.
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The Virtual Colombo Plan, a $200 million joint initiative of the Australian Government
and World Bank, assists developing countries to access knowledge networks and
improved education.
It has provided:
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Occurs when a country donates
goods or money to an international
organisation (such as the UN) who
then decide on which issues need the
most attention (such as a world
HIV/AIDS project).
Multilateral
Australia's experience in tackling land degradation has been important in helping
other countries address their resource management problems. The Australian
Government, through the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID),
is currently supporting a range of bilateral programs in developing countries. Through
the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), the Australian
Government funds collaborative agricultural research projects in China, India,
southern Africa and Southeast Asia.
Australia provides approximately 150,000 tonnes of food aid every year—about $65
million—to people in crisis in countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka,
Sudan and Chad. At least half of this tonnage comes from Australian farmers and
suppliers.
Is provided when a region is
experiencing an unexpected crisis.
Aid usually comes in the form of
blankets, food, health supplies, water
etc.
Occurs between two countries. One
country offers aid to another.
Examples
Description
Bilateral
Emergency/
humanitarian
relief
Type of aid
TYPES OF AID
In 2006, the World Food Programme (WFP) fed nearly 88 million people in 78 countries, including most of the world's refugees and
internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Humanitarian assistance
Social and economic development
Education campaigns have informed the world’s public of their rights, while numerous national judicial and penal systems have been
improved through UN training programmes and technical advice. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights works to
strengthen and coordinate United Nations efforts for the protection and promotion of all human rights of all persons around the world.
Human rights
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Assists countries in their social and economic development by devising a set of recommendations for implementation by the
country’s government.
The UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is providing 3000 young people in Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) with training to
assist them in gaining employment which will assist them in getting involved in their country’s economic recovery.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has been providing education,
health, relief and social services to Palestine refugees since 1950.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) provides international protection and assistance to
millions of refugees and IDPs.
Provide personnel and resources for peace keeping missions in places experiencing conflict or that are unsettled. In 2010, there
were 16 peacekeeping missions operational including those in Kosovo, Pakistan and India, Afghanistan and Liberia.
World peace and security
Area of action
Examples
To maintain international peace and security.
To develop friendly relations among nations.
To achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character
To be a centre for harmonising the actions of nations
Some key areas of action are summarised in the table below:
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The key purposes of the United Nations are to:
The United Nations is an organisation consisting of over 190 ‘member states’. A member state is a country that has signed on to and accepting
the United Nations Charter.
THE UNITED NATIONS
The World Health Organisation works to standardise the way that research is carried
out, the terminology and classification systems used. This enables different groups to
share resources and data from across the globe with regards to diagnosis, treatment
and prevention of disease. If the information is in the same format, technologies and
procedures can also be shared among countries. The WHO has devised a number of
systems to ensure that these norms are followed across the world.
Setting norms and
standards
Examples
The International Classification of
Diseases – a system that assists
in diagnosis and recording of key
health information.
Africa Health Infoway – an ICT –
based network of e-health
solutions, to support health at
districts in 53 African countries.
It is planned for implementation
over 5 years, delivering
connectivity to global information,
strengthening the capture, use
and exchange of health
information.
The Global Alert and Response
(GAR) – an integrated global alert
and response system for
epidemics and other public health
emergencies based on strong
national public health systems
and capacity and an effective
international system for
coordinated response.
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This function centres around research and the role it plays in promoting health. New
developments are continually being made with regards to disease prevention and
treatment and the management of health systems. The WHO works with other
organisations to ensure that the most up to date research is available for improving
health for those in need.
Managing information
and promoting research
The Essentials – Health and Human Development
As the global health body, the World Health Organisation takes much of the
responsibility in promoting health globally. As major health issues arise, the WHO
works with its member states in order to achieve positive outcomes for those in need.
Examples of this include Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; the Roll
Back Malaria Partnership; and the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn, and Child
Health. The WHO works to increase the effectiveness of such programs by providing
assistance and guidance to those in need. The WHO also works with other
international bodies such as the United Nations and the World Bank, to ensure that
programs are as effective as possible. Much of this work centres around the effort of
trying to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
Providing leadership
and creating
partnerships to improve
health
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Description
Core Function
THE CORE FUNCTIONS OF THE WHO IN PROVIDING
GLOBAL HEALTH AND SUSTAINABLE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Monitoring health
trends
Providing technical
support and assisting
health systems to
become sustainable
Core Function
Assisting with policy
selection
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The WHO assists countries in building up their surveillance capabilities and therefore
provides them with early detection systems. This both provides a level of protection
against outbreaks of disease and therefore allows governments to have greater control
over the health of their people.
The WHO works with the governments of various countries and statistical institutions to
collect data concerning trends and health related issues. As a result, countries can be
monitored and compared for the purpose of improving health globally.
The World Health Report – an
annual report that includes data
gathered from around the world
on numerous health indicators
and issues.
Provide advice to countries on
monitoring and dealing with
influenza outbreaks.
The WHO assists countries to monitor disease outbreaks and surveillance of
conditions such as malaria and HIV/AIDS.
In emergencies and conflicts, the WHO assists countries in receiving the resources
they need by facilitating communication between countries and other organisations.
Assisting countries to receive
grants from the Global Fund to
fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and
malaria.
Examples
The CHOICE (CHOosing
Interventions that are CostEffective) project - a WHO
initiative developed in 1998 with
the objective of providing policy
makers with the evidence for
deciding on the interventions and
programmes which maximise
health for the available resources.
One of the WHO’s lasting contributions to world health has been by providing technical
support to countries. This support does not take the form of implementing strategies,
but rather to provide advice that can be used to ensure the government of the country
concerned can implement sustainable programs and policies.
Description
When a health issue is identified, the government of the country concerned works to
implement policies to deal with the issue. However, factors such as economy, location
and the social environment means that individual countries have individual needs. The
WHO has a range of policy options that can be tailored to meet the individual needs of
a country. As the WHO has a large wealth of experience in implementing policies
around the world, they can assist countries to make appropriate policy choices. Some
issues that the WHO has provided policy options for in recent years include those
relating to mental health, road traffic accidents, violence against women, chronic
diseases, tobacco control, and patient safety.
AUSAID
WHO IS AUSAID?
This organisation manages Australia’s international aid program, which is funded by the
commonwealth government. AusAID works with the UN and non-government agencies and
directs most aid to the South East Asia and Western Pacific region. AusAID are currently
administering many programs in partnership with many government and non-government
organisations.
Aims and Objectives of AusAID
To assist developing countries reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development, in line
with Australia’s national interest. Australia’s development assistance focus on poverty is
guided by the Millennium Development Goals, the internationally agreed targets for poverty
reduction.
Why does Australia give aid?
1.
Humanitarian reasons – Australians places importance on helping those less fortunate.
2.
Giving aid improves Australia's regional security. Australia helps other countries to
establish law and order and to become stable in terms of their governance. It also
establishes ties with other countries that assist in controlling issues such as people
smuggling and the spread of infectious diseases.
3.
Benefits to trade. Australian aid is in the form of goods and services as well as cash.
Australian companies can benefit from aid given to other countries.
4.
Some of their recent initiatives/projects include:
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TWO CASE STUDIES
Australia-Indonesia Facility For Disaster Reduction (AIFDR)
In late 2008 the Prime Minister of Australia and the President of Indonesia agreed to form a
A$67 million Partnership for regional disaster reduction that will involve Australian
and Indonesian collaboration on innovative scientific solutions, risk information and analysis,
and training and outreach in support of greater disaster mitigation and preparedness in
Indonesia and regionally.
The AusAID Africa Program
The AusAID Africa program provides HIV/AIDS assistance primarily through the APAC NGO
program, which supports Australian NGOs to work with partners in recipient countries to
conduct community-based projects. Countries of focus include Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique,
South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS
There are many Australian-based non-government organisations that aim to reduce suffering
in developing countries and promote health and human development. Examples of these
organisations include Amnesty International, CARE Australia, Greenpeace, Oxfam, Red
Cross, and World Vision. One of these will be explored in more detail:
CARE Australia
CARE is an international humanitarian aid organisation fighting global poverty, with a special
focus on working with women and girls to bring lasting change in their communities. They
are non-religious and non-political Australian charity, working together with communities to
provide emergency relief and address the underlying causes of poverty. They believe
supporting women and girls is one of the most effective ways to create sustainable
outcomes in poor communities.
Source: CARE Australia
Examples of projects carried out by CARE Australia include:
Project: De mining programs in Cambodia.
Outline: More than 5 million mines still threaten Cambodians, causing death and injury and
seriously limiting access to arable land. One in 278 Cambodians is a mine victim.
CARE de-mining large areas of Cambodia, as well as working with groups such as the World
Food Program to ensure land cleared of mines and unexploded ordinance is put to the best
possible use by the rural poor.
CARE is assisting in the resettlement of landless and internally displaced people to provide
an environment where they can support themselves and live secure from fear or being killed
or disabled by mines.
Recognising the need for Cambodia to develop and maintain an effective national mine
action capacity, CARE is working closely with the Cambodian Mine Action Centre.
Source: CARE Australia
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Project: Health and Nutrition projects in Indonesia
Outline: CARE’s projects in health focus on women and children, who often are the most
vulnerable to disease and malnutrition. CARE’s interventions include family planning,
tuberculosis control and treatment, malaria reduction, prenatal and neonatal care,
therapeutic feeding during emergencies, health and hygiene promotion, and capacity
building for local partners and health care providers. In the poorest parts of the country such
as West Timor, where children suffer from chronic malnutrition, CARE works to improve
access to nutritious food and raise awareness of balanced nutrition. CARE supports the
Government of Indonesia’s strategy to reduce HIV transmission through prevention
messages, training and advocacy.
Source: CARE Australia
Project: Rural sanitation and water supply projects in Papua New Guinea
Outline: CARE has completed a rural water supply and sanitation project as part of an
initiative to strengthen the capacity of vulnerable communities in PNG. Now the community
has access to clean water for the first time, piped across a valley to their new drinking taps,
areas for washing clothes, toilets and showers.
‘I am so happy because now it is easier to use water. I used to walk four hours twice a day
carrying a 20 litre container on my head which was very heavy. Where we used to collect
water was swampy which wasn’t healthy. Children would get typhoid and diarrhoea and
sometimes the women would have kidney problems. Since the project there have been a lot
of changes - there is less sickness, we are cleaner, and we can wash our clothes more
easily,’ said Susan.
Susan and her family’s health used to suffer from the effects of limited access to water, poor
hygiene and the daily burden of collecting water. Now she sees many improvements, ‘I see
good things for the children. It’s good that they will enjoy what we have now,' said Susan.
Considering her own future she continues, ‘I want to be more involved in earning an income
for my family by taking vegetables and coffee to the market. I look forward to planting more
coffee trees and looking after animals like pigs, cows, chickens and ducks.’
Source: CARE Australia
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Equity refers to ensuring that the strategy is addressing the needs of all people including women, the disabled,
those living in poverty and those in rural and remote areas. Strategies should focus on removing barriers that
prevent some members of society improving their health and human development.
Equity
Involve the people
Choose the right type of aid to reach poor people
Focus on involving and educating women
Focus on education
Ensure the cultural sensitivity of the program
Affordability refers to the fact that the people who are targeted by health strategies are often the least able to
afford them. As a result, if the program works on a ‘user pays’ system, it will probably not be successful as many
people will not be able to afford to access it.
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Appropriateness means that the implemented program addresses the specific needs of a targeted community or
population. In order to be appropriate, it should:
Outline
Affordability
Appropriateness
Element of Sustainability
ENSURING SUSTAINABILITY OF PROGRAMS
3. Emergency relief /
Multilateral
2. Food security
1. World Food Programme
3. Multilateral aid
2. Literacy
Education Initiative
(UNGEI)
1. United Nations Girls’
3. Type of Aid involved
2. Target of program
1. Program
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Vulnerable Group Development Program in Bangladesh is
implemented by the WFP and partially funded by AusAID. The
program aims to assist women in breaking the cycle of hunger
and poverty. They distribute food rations monthly to
households headed by women. They are also provided with
training to assist them in earning an income that can break the
cycle of poverty.
Provides an emergency food supply when required such as in
times of conflict, disease outbreak or natural disaster. Food aid
is delivered in any means possible such as by truck, animal
transport or air drop. The WFP often works with NGOs in order
to distribute food.
The Essentials – Health and Human Development
Children who do not have access to adequate nutrition
tend to be smaller in height, weigh less and are less able
to perform physical tasks.
Lack of food leads to malnutrition and reduced immunity
to infectious diseases, resulting in shorter life
expectancy.
More than half of the world's population live in low
income countries that do not produce enough food or
import the required amounts to adequately feed their
populations.
Literate individuals are more likely to be employed in
higher paid positions, thereby improving their standard
of living and allowing them to make decisions that may
affect their lives and the lives of their children.
Training of teachers to assist students who have been
stressed or traumatised by an emergency situation.
Provision of basic educational materials and equipment.
In developing countries, 75 per cent of children not
attending primary school have uneducated mothers.
Programs that focus on improving literacy levels enable
individuals to develop the skills that increase their
opportunities.
Supporting the establishment of safe learning centres when
school facilities are destroyed.
Implementation of the program
There are 781 million illiterate adults worldwide; twothirds of them are women.
Reasons for the program
PROGRAMS FOCUSING ON LITERACY, FOOD SECURITY,
HIV/AIDS, AND SAFE WATER AND SANITATION
Many people with HIV do not have access to the health
care they need.
2. HIV/AIDS
Contributes to millions of diarrhoeal deaths each year.
3. Multilateral
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This program means that women spend less time collecting
water so they can work and children can attend school.
Assisting the building of wells with pumps in Niger. This makes
water collection easier. In the village of Dara, in Niger, women
pay a small fee for the water which helps pay for the
maintenance of the pump.
The RBM Partnership is working with governments to ensure
that their malaria treatment policies include the use of the new
therapies.
The RBM Partnership promotes the use of insecticide-treated
mosquito nets particularly for vulnerable groups such as
children, pregnant women and those with HIV/AIDS.
A team of peer educators provide information regarding HIV
prevention and safe sex information for those who are at risk in
Vietnam. This program involves recruiting migrants and sex
workers to act as mentors to their peers. They also refer
people to clinics who provide health checks, counselling and
treatment with regards to a variety of sexually transmissible
infections.
Implementation of the program
The Essentials – Health and Human Development
An estimated 50% of those in developing countries are
affected by water born disease.
2. Safe water and
sanitation
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Lack of clean water impacts on 40% of the global
population.
1. Developing wells in
Niger (World Vision)
Malaria can be prevented quite easily.
Malaria is a significant risk factor for poverty.
20 per cent of childhood deaths in Africa are due to
malaria.
2. Malaria
3. Multilateral
In 2006, there was an estimated 247 million cases
resulting in 881 000 deaths globally.
1. Roll Back Malaria
(RBM) Partnership
3. Multilateral
In 2007, around 33 million people had HIV and another
two million died from AIDS.
Reasons for the program
1. The ‘Far Away From
Home’ Club
3. Type of Aid involved
2. Target of program
1. Program
EXAM STYLE QUESTIONS
PART A
QUESTION 1
Define ‘Life expectancy’.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
1 mark
QUESTION 2
Explain the difference between prevalence and incidence.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
2 marks
QUESTION 3
The following graph shows the projected numbers of older patients with certain heart, stroke
and vascular conditions in Australia over time.
(a)
Identify two trends in the rates of cardiovascular disease as shown in the above
graph.
Trend 1:
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
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Trend 2:
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
2 marks
(b)
Suggest two reasons for the changes indicated in Question 2 (a)(i).
Reason 1:
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Reason 2
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
2 marks
QUESTION 4
Three nutrients are listed in the table below.
Complete the table by briefly outlining the function of the nutrient as a determinant of health
and one major food source.
Nutrient
How the nutrient relates to health
One food source
Fibre
Vitamin C
Folate
6 marks
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QUESTION 5
The following table outlines some key statistics between Australia and other developed
countries.
Use the data in the table to compare the health status of Australia with that of three other
developed countries listed.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
3 marks
QUESTION 6
Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand were released in 2006 by the
National Health and Medical Research Council.
Identify two groups that the Nutrient Reference Values are intended to be used by.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
2 marks
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QUESTION 7
Two ways in which the federal government aims to improve the health of Australians is
through the provision of Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
(a)
Briefly describe Medicare.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
2 marks
(b)
What is the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
2 marks
QUESTION 8
Private health insurance assists the health system by increasing the funding available to
hospitals. The Federal Government encourages people to take out private health insurance.
Briefly explain two ways that the Federal Government encourages people to take out private
health insurance.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
4 marks
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