Despite the global efforts to eliminate disparity in healthcare systems, significant discrepancies are still witnessed in various parts of the world. These disparities primarily affect the vulnerable populations in the medical sector. The economically disadvantaged, elderly, racial and ethnic minorities, homeless, uninsured, chronically ill patients, low-income patients, and HIV-victims are the best examples of vulnerable populations (Vanderbilt et al., 2013). The rural residents, especially those who may not be in a position to access quality healthcare services, may also be classified as vulnerable populations (Vanderbilt et al., 2013). From the social realm point of view, vulnerability may be extended to include communities such as individuals from abusive families, refugees, immigrants, and the homeless (Vanderbilt et al., 2013).
Several global issues lead to vulnerable populations and disparities. One of the problems is the outbreak of disease pandemics, such as HIV and Ebola, pneumonia, and tuberculosis (Nathe, 2018). The explosion of these diseases is likely to occur in areas with vulnerable populations. Also, the severity emanating from the outbreak of these diseases is profoundly felt by the vulnerable groups of people. Another issue is the outbreak of wars leading to refugees and migrants (Nathe, 2018). The refugees and migrants face a significant challenge in accessing healthcare in new countries. Such people face a language barrier, financial crisis, lack of medical cover, and unfamiliarity in the foreign country. Besides, refugees are vulnerable to traumatization, especially when freeing warzones. They overcrowd in areas with poor conditions and become susceptible to the disease outbreak.
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The changing world is another global issue leading to vulnerability among people. For example, Hurricane Maria witnessed in Puerto Rico in September 2017 not only led to several deaths but also increased incidences of heart attacks and strokes (Nathe, 2018). Therefore, Hurricanes and other natural disasters contribute significantly to increasing vulnerability among the affected people. The spread of fake news and misinformation is another cause of vulnerable populations in the world (Nathe, 2018). The world of internet is full of myths and misconceptions that are likely to affect the global health systems. For instance, the lack of facts regarding the cause and spread of certain infections continues to champion the spread of killer diseases, such as measles, Ebola, and mumps. This is because many people have limited education, and they believe in what they hear or read from the internet without questioning the credibility of the source of information.
The introduction of the millennial workforce in healthcare sectors is another source of vulnerability among various classes of people globally (Nathe, 2018). Most of the learning institutions are incompetent in releasing competent healthcare graduates in the job market. The young healthcare professionals lack experience in the healthcare sector and may pose a considerable risk to terminally-ill patients. The skills needed for better patient care systems are also undergoing a massive change (Nathe, 2018). Today, there is a lot of IT-application in patient care system, which may pose a critical challenge to healthcare providers, especially those who have limited knowledge in IT. The final global issue leading to vulnerable populations is the emergence of innovation from unexpected areas (Nathe, 2018). Today, scientific innovations are everywhere every time. The best example of a spark innovation is the Odon Device, which was invented by the Argentinean car mechanic in a kitchen (Nathe, 2018). Although such devices play a crucial role in saving human life, there is the likelihood that they may have long-term side effects. Therefore, the lack of testing of newly invented medical devices for the presence of long-term side effects may lead to vulnerability among the populations.
The vulnerable populations are encompassed with various disparities. These disparities include risk factors, morbidity, mortality, and access to healthcare (Vanderbilt et al., 2013). Research shows that individuals living in poverty are at a high risk of receiving poor healthcare, are likely to live in disabling conditions and have access to limited healthcare (Vanderbilt et al., 2013). For instance, research done by Vanderbilt et al. (2013) indicates that the Hispanic, black Americans and the aged have a high prevalence of chronic disease co-morbidity (Vanderbilt et al., 2013). These groups of people, therefore, require special attention during the treatment. Healthcare professionals should seek to address the social determiners of health, such as psychological, biological, and social dimensions, while dealing with these vulnerable populations.
Centrally to what is expected in the 21 st century, the vulnerability in the global healthcare sector continues to be a significant concern. Various factors champion this. First, many people around the world are living in poverty. Studies indicate that people with low-income and the disadvantaged have a high prevalence of chronic illnesses (Vanderbilt et al., 2013). Further research shows that the impact of chronic diseases is profoundly felt by the unemployed, less educated, and uninsured (Vanderbilt et al., 2013). For instance, the rate of unemployment increases with illiteracy and subsequently leading to a high poverty level. People with low income may not afford to pay for their medical insurance. Consequently, less educated people are highly vulnerable and subsequently profoundly affected by healthcare disparities.
There are several steps that healthcare professionals may take to act as advocacies for the vulnerable people at the global level. Healthcare providers should focus on vulnerable populations (Vanderbilt et al., 2013). Bearing in mind that the vulnerable populations lack adequate finance to cater to their medical cover, such groups should be assisted in restoring their health without necessarily considering if they can pay for their healthcare services or not. In this regard, healthcare providers should be guided by their ethics and integrity to focus on saving life first regardless of the patients' financial status, ethnicity, gender, age, race, or color (Vanderbilt et al., 2013). This is critical as it will play a significant role in containing the healthcare conditions of the vulnerable populations before they reach beyond control.
Healthcare professionals should also apply the inter-professional concept in the training of health professionals in an attempt to close the gap within the vulnerable global populations (Vanderbilt et al., 2013). This helps to create collaboration, teamwork, and communication necessary in offering a comprehensive healthcare system vital for meeting and addressing the systematic health challenges. The application of the inter-professional concept of education also generates a collaborative environment for effective decision-making, and subsequently leads to optimum patient care system (Vanderbilt et al., 2013).
Besides, healthcare professionals should collaborate with healthcare institutions in developing a curriculum that may help in coming up with competent graduates (Vanderbilt et al., 2013). This is a vital step as it facilitates the implementation of IPE, hence lead to a decrease in health disparities (Vanderbilt et al., 2013). Finally, healthcare professionals should volunteer to conduct comprehensive health education for vulnerable populations. The health education is critical as it offers vulnerable citizens with vital information about the best practices leading to healthy people.
The World Health Organization offers an excellent definition of the Sustainable Development Goals. These goals may be classified into three major categories. The first goal aims at improving global health ( Pettigrew et al., 2015 ). In this regard, the objectives aim at reducing the global maternity mortality rate, minimizing the global deaths and injuries accruing from road accidents, and significantly eliminate avoidable deaths caused by air, soil, and water pollutions as well as hazardous chemicals ( Pettigrew et al., 2015 ). The second category of goals is meant to improve water care and availability ( Pettigrew et al., 2015 ). This goal focuses on protecting and restoring water-related ecosystems, enhancing water sanctity, and improving sanitation and hygiene at the global level ( Pettigrew et al., 2015 ). The final goal focuses on nutritional improvement and the elimination of hunger ( Pettigrew et al., 2015 ). For instance, these goals aim at ending hunger, malnutrition, and spreading practices that lead to water preservation worldwide.
As a healthcare professional, I have a role to play in upholding the Sustainable Development Goals. I have the mandate to help the expectant mothers in adopting the best practices that help to minimize maternity mortality. I have to educate the public about best practices leading to environmental conservation to avoid the spread to avoidable diseases. Besides, I have to guide the people in adopting water conservation practices to make the environment suitable for agriculture, hence eliminate hunger and malnutrition. Also, I should act as the role model in developing the best ways of handling and disposition of used chemicals, such as recycling, to minimize the spread of hazardous chemicals in the environment.
I understand that the healthcare and nursing sector is challenging and will require my full commitment. As a healthcare provider, I have several future responsibilities involving ethical norms in healthcare. First, I will abide by abiding by the nursing code of ethics and ensure that I uphold the healthcare reputations through yearning to save life first. Guided by my integrity, I will serve all patients regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, and race. It will be my duty to ensure that I honor patients' rights to informed consent. In this regard, I will act with dignity to manage chronically ill patients who may not have decision-making capacity. I will incorporate my research skills to come up with innovative healthcare practices that aim at providing optimum patient care system. I will keep away from engaging in conflicts of interest. In this regard, I will turn down all illegal practices, such as drug trafficking and substance abuse. This is because these practices not only threaten the nurses' careers but also affect their relationships with clients.
References
Nathe, M. (2018). 10 Global Health Issues to Watch in 2018: IntraHealth . (Online). Retrieved October 22, 2019; from https://www.intrahealth.org/vital/10-global-health-issues-watch-2018
Pettigrew, L., Maeseneer, J., Anderson, M., Essuman, A., Kidd, M., & Haines, A. (2015). Primary health care and the Sustainable Development Goals . 386(10009):2119-2121. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00949-6
Vanderbilt, A. A., Isringhausen, K. T., VanderWielen, L. M., Wright, M. S., Slashcheva, L. D., & Madden, M. A. (2013). Health disparities among highly vulnerable populations in the United States: a call to action for medical and oral health care: Medical Education Online . 18 : 1–3. doi:10.3402/meo.v18i0.20644.
