James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2003

TM5552:03

International Health Agencies and Development

Townsville HECS Band 2

Staff: Assoc. Professor T Taufa.

This subject covers the design, development and management of International Health and Development programs for students wishing to work in international health. Topics covered in the subject will provide students with information and skills in relation to designing and delivering health services in the developing country context in accordance with stated policies and frameworks of donor countries and international organisations. The subject will cover a range of political, economic and social issues that relate to health and sustainable development. These issues will be related to policies and practices of international organisations and major donor governments. Topics will include: human development and health indicators; political, social and economic determinants of health; the ‘burden of poverty’ in a development context; Essential Health Services – the World Health Organisation’s Primary Health Care approach; major barriers to achieving ‘Health for All’; major players – UN organisations, multinational banks and companies, international government and non-government organisations; appropriate responses – project identification, planning, development, implementation and monitoring.

Learning Objectives:

  1. to be able to discuss health indicators in the developing country context;
  2. to be able to identify political, social and economic factors that contribute to health and health determinants in developing countries;
  3. to be able to describe the cycle of poverty and how this contributes to morbidity and mortality;
  4. to develop broad strategies to address the burden of poverty through appropriate interventions;
  5. to be able to apply the WHO Primary Health Care approach to health service delivery;
  6. to be able to identify key government, non-government and international agencies who provide health and development assistance;
  7. to be able to analyse the various roles, policies and project design requirements of these agencies;
  8. to demonstrate competency in project identification, planning, development, implementation and monitoring.

Assessment by written examination (50%); group project due towards the end of the subject (20%); final assignment due four weeks after the subject (30%).