NURS FPX 8014 Assessment 1 Nongovernmental Agencies Involved in Global Issues

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Capella university

NURS FPX 8014 Global Population Health

Prof. Name

Date

Non-governmental Agencies Involved in Global Issues

Malaria, a mosquito-borne infectious disease, remains a critical global health challenge, impacting millions (249) and causing 608 thousand deaths as of the year 2022, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (WHO, 2023). Government and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have been pivotal in combating this disease, employing diverse strategies to mitigate its spread and impact. This paper will delve into the distinction between NGOs and government-sponsored programs in addressing malaria. Several organizations have put efforts to address malaria, including the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (The Global Fund, 2024b).

Differences between NGOs and Government-Sponsored Programs

Public Health NGOs and governmental public health organizations both play crucial roles in addressing global health issues but operate differently in terms of structure, funding, and approach. Public health NGOs are independent entities that are non-profit and operate without direct control from any government. They receive funding from a variety of sources, including donations, grants, and private sector contributions. NGOs typically focus on specific health issues, working at the grassroots level to implement programs and interventions. They can often act more quickly and flexibly than governmental bodies due to less bureaucratic oversight (Besançon et al., 2022). Governmental public health organizations are state-funded responsible for public health policies and programs within a country or at an international level.

They are typically funded through taxpayer money and are potentially subject to political influence and policy changes. Governmental organizations have broader mandates, including regulatory functions, research, and large-scale public health campaigns (Perry, 2023). The Global Fund is a partnership organization with an aim to end three particular diseases including Malaria, established in 2002. The Global Fund has raised over $ 50 billion since its inception. For the 2021-2023 funding cycle, it aimed to raise $14 billion. Current data shows that the organization has spent US$17.9 billion (65%) of its funding on the malaria program (The Global Fund, 2024a). These funds are used for insecticide-treated nets, medications, diagnostic testing, and strengthening health systems in affected areas.

NURS FPX 8014 Assessment 1 Nongovernmental Agencies Involved in Global Issues

The Global Fund operates in over 100 countries, with significant malaria interventions in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America (The Global Fund, 2024a). The stakeholders for the organizations include donor governments, private sector partners, civil society organizations, and affected communities. Members join through a formal application review process, ensuring a wide representation from various sectors. The advantages of the NGO are that it is flexible, has targeted interventions, and has the ability to quickly mobilize resources. The Global Fund collaborates closely with local organizations to implement programs effectively. However, it faces challenges as it depends on donor funding, variability in annual contributions, and the need to maintain transparency and accountability (The Global Fund, 2024a).

 It was founded in 1948, and it is an agency of the United Nations accountable for global public health. The WHO’s biennial budget for 2022-2023 was approximately $5.84 billion, funded through assessed contributions from member states and voluntary contributions (WHO, 2022). Current data shows that WHO’s Global Malaria Programme oversees the implementation of the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016-2030, with the purpose of reducing malaria incidence and death rates by 90% by 2023 (WHO, 2021b).

WHO operates globally, with six regional offices and 194 member states. The stakeholders include member states, international health bodies, and partner organizations. Membership is composed of UN member countries, which influence policies and finding allocations through the World Health Assembly. The advantage of it is that, it has extensive reach, an authoritative voice in global health, and the ability to coordinate large-scale international health efforts and set global health standards. However, they face challenges due to bureaucratic processes, political influences, and slower response time due to the need for consensus among member states (WHO, 2022a).  

Public Health NGOs and Governmental Public Health Organizations

There are several benefits for NGOs, like The Global Fund, over government-sponsored programs. First, public health NGOs like the Global Fund are more agile and flexible than government-sponsored ones (Rajabi et al., 2023). For instance, The Global Fund has been able to distribute insecticide-treated nets (55% coverage) swiftly and antimalarial medications in response to malaria outbreaks. Government organizations such as the WHO often need faster decision-making, which delays the implementation of urgent health initiatives. The reasons are the need for consensus among state members and adherence to complex regulations (Scott & Gong, 2021). Another benefit of NGOs over government organizations is targeted interventions.

NGOs typically focus on specific health issues (malaria) and regions, allowing them to tailor their programs, but government bodies generally have broader mandates, which dilutes their focus based on areas (Afzal & Nasir, 2023). For instance, the Global Fund’s malaria programs are customized based on the local epidemiology and healthcare infrastructure, while WHO sets global standards and policies, not focusing on interventions needed at the community level. Lastly, NGOs provide the benefit of closely working with local communities, building trust, and fostering community involvement (Sanadgol et al., 2021). This approach enhances the effectiveness of interventions and makes programs culturally appropriate. The Global Fund (NGO) collaborates with local partners to ensure that malaria prevention and treatments are community-driven. However, WHO’s top-down approach only sometimes resonates with local populations as effectively (Bulthuis et al., 2020).

NURS FPX 8014 Assessment 1 Nongovernmental Agencies Involved in Global Issues

The comparative summary between the two bodies, The Global Fund (NGO) and WHO (Governmental Public Health), provides specific takeaways, particularly in funding and engagement. For instance, NGOs like The Global Fund rely on voluntary donations and grants, giving flexibility but also uncertainty of the financing. They often conduct fundraising campaigns, apply for grants, and partner with private sector entities to secure funding (The Global Fund, 2024b). WHO is funded by member state contributions, ensuring a more stable financial base but with potential political influence. Regarding distribution, NGOs can rapidly implement targeted interventions by distributing funds directly to local partners and programs, ensuring they reach the intended beneficiaries quickly (WHO, 2022a). 

The Global Fund adjusts strategies as needed based on a performance-based funding model, where funds are allocated to the effectiveness and efficiency of programs (The Global Fund, n.d.). WHO can enact widespread policy changes and coordinate large-scale health initiatives, meaning they distribute funds through established channels and allocate them based on global health priorities and needs assessments (Ravaghi et al., 2023). The application for assistance for NGOs like the Global Fund has streamlined processes, enabling quicker access to resources.

The Global Fund invites proposals from countries and organizations, which are reviewed based on criteria such as impact, feasibility, and sustainability. This competitive process ensures that funds are allocated to high-impact programs (The Global Fund, 2024a). Applications for assistance through government programs can be more complex and bureaucratic, involving detailed proposals and compliance with stringent regulations. For instance, WHO requires countries to submit comprehensive plans and undergo thorough evaluations before receiving support, which can delay the provision of aid (WHO, 2021). 

Challenges of Public Health NGOs and Government-Sponsored Programs

The challenges for NGOs and government bodies exist in areas of funding stability, reach and scalability, sustainability concerns, regulatory and policy influence, and coordination and collaboration. NGOs like The Global Fund have fluctuating funding that impacts the scalability and sustainability of NGO-sponsored programs such as for Malaria. The fluctuating donations can lead to inconsistent program delivery, which has the potential for project termination (Besançon et al., 2022). However, government agencies like the WHO have more stable funding from taxpayers’ contributions from member states.

Government-led programs have long-term mandates and are integrated into national and international health systems, providing greater sustainability and continuous support. NGOs like the Global Fund have limited geographical scope and capacity, focusing on specific health issues and regions (The Global Fund, 2024b). While government agencies like WHO have extensive reach and look for broader systematic issues, offering long-term stable health infrastructure. In the fight against malaria, while the Global Fund can provide critical resources for immediate interventions, it is essential to have robust, long-term public health systems in place, which are typically established and maintained by government agencies like WHO (Scott & Gong, 2021).

Further, NGOs like The Global Fund need more authority to enforce health regulations and policies, relying instead on advocacy and partnerships to influence change. However, government agencies like WHO have regulatory power to implement and enforce public health policies, ensuring compliance and systematic change (Scott & Gong, 2021). Lastly, NGOs may need help coordinating with other organizations and government entities, leading to overlaps or gaps in service delivery (Rajabi et al., 2023). While government organizations are better positioned to coordinate large-scale public efforts, ensuring comprehensive and integrated approaches across different sectors and regions (Scott & Gong, 2021). 

Criteria for Public Health NGOs to Get Involved in a Health Issue

The criteria to be involved are dependent on data, severity of the situation, and degree of need. The methods for developing criteria involve comprehensive needs assessment through field surveys, stakeholder consultations, and community feedback. Further, collaboration with academic institutions and local health agencies helps NGOs refine their criteria based on the ground realities. Firstly, NGOs like The Global Fund rely on epidemiological data from sources like the World Health Organization (WHO), national health ministries, and academic research to know about the prevalence and trends of diseases like malaria. Information on local healthcare infrastructure, the availability of medical supplies, and the healthcare workforce’s capacity are crucial for planning interventions (Bulthuis et al., 2020).

The data on the effectiveness of previous interventions and current health outcomes are used to guide NGOs’ decision-making. The Global Fund looks into the severity of the health issue by assessing it (based on morbidity and mortality rates). For malaria, high prevalence and mortality rates in regions like sub-Saharan Africa trigger NGO involvement. It also looks into the extent to which disease affects different regions, helping NGOs prioritize areas with the highest need. The Global Fund further assesses the vulnerability of affected populations, including factors like poverty, lack of access to healthcare, and marginalized groups.

NURS FPX 8014 Assessment 1 Nongovernmental Agencies Involved in Global Issues

Identifying gaps in funding, medical supplies, and healthcare services helps NGOs determine where their interventions can have the most significant impact (The Global Fund, n.d.). For me to approach the Global Fund (NGO) requires a detailed proposal that provides robust data on the severity and scope of malaria in the target region. The gaps in healthcare provision and the specific needs of the community should be emphasized. Demonstrate the impact of the project and existing collaboration with local authorities and community organizations to determine an integrated approach. Conclusively, when approaching an NGO for assistance, a well-prepared proposal highlighting the issue, need, impact, and sustainability, supported by robust data, is essential (The Global Fund, 2024a).

Practicum Research and Interviewing Experience

Being a healthcare provider, the practicum research, along with my interviewing experience, has provided me with worthy insights. It has challenged a few assumptions of mine while meeting the others. For instance, I assumed that government-sponsored programs were excessively bureaucratic and slow. However, interviews revealed that while there is bureaucratic complexity, these programs also benefit from extensive infrastructure and coordinated efforts that can sustain long-term public health initiatives. I also believe that NGOs operate with complete flexibility. The research showed that NGOs also face constraints, such as donor requirements and funding limitations, which can impact their operations. 

The elements that aligned with my expectations are community engagement and the comprehensive reach of government programs. For instance, NGOs excel in community engagement, tailoring interventions to local needs and gaining community trust. While government programs have a broad reach and ability to implement widespread health policies, aligning with my expectations of their scale and regulatory power. What surprised me most was the extent of collaboration between NGOs and government programs. Effective public health delivery often involves joint efforts to leverage the strengths of both sectors (Rajabi et al., 2021). Moreover, the efficiency and strategic allocation of resources by the Global Fund were more sophisticated than anticipated (The Global Fund, n.d.).

It will definitely have an impact on future professional practice. Understanding the strengths and limitations of both NGOs and government programs will guide me in advocating for integrated approaches that combine the agility of NGOs with the stability of government initiatives. I will prioritize building partnerships and fostering collaboration between different health entities to enhance the impact of interventions. Emphasizing community engagement and culturally tailored interventions will be a key focus in my professional practice, inspired by the effective strategies observed in NGO operations (Rajabi et al., 2021; Sanadgol et al., 2021). 

Conclusion

In conclusion, addressing global health issues like malaria requires the combined efforts of NGOs and government-sponsored programs. While NGOs like the Global Fund offer agility and community engagement, governmental organizations such as WHO provide stability and extensive reach. A synergistic approach leveraging the strengths of both sectors can enhance the effectiveness of public health interventions, ensuring sustainable solutions to global health challenges.

References

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Besançon, S., Sidibé, A., Sow, D. S., Sy, O., Ambard, J., Yudkin, J. S., & Beran, D. (2022). The role of non-governmental organizations in strengthening healthcare systems in low- and middle-income countries: Lessons from Santé Diabète in Mali. Global Health Action, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2022.2061239 

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NURS FPX 8014 Assessment 1 Nongovernmental Agencies Involved in Global Issues

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NURS FPX 8014 Assessment 1 Nongovernmental Agencies Involved in Global Issues

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