Global Health Glossary

The ability of microorganisms to withstand the effects of antimicrobial drugs, making standard treatments ineffective and increasing risk of disease spread and mortality.

The overall impact of a disease or health condition measured by mortality, morbidity, disability, and economic costs.

Out-of-pocket health spending that exceeds a significant proportion of household income, often driving families into poverty.

A frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of the community served, providing health education, referrals, and basic clinical services.

A metric combining years of life lost and years lived with disability to quantify the overall burden of disease in a population.

The shift from infectious to chronic non-communicable diseases as the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in a population undergoing economic development.

The study of the distribution, determinants, and frequency of disease in human populations and the application of this study to control health problems.

The ongoing systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health data across nations to detect and respond to disease threats.

Activities and capacities needed to prevent, detect, and respond to acute public health events that threaten people across international boundaries.

The principle that everyone should have a fair opportunity to attain their full health potential, with no disadvantage due to social position or circumstances.

Efforts to improve the capacity, performance, and resilience of health systems across the six WHO building blocks.

Indirect protection from infectious disease that occurs when a sufficiently large proportion of a population is immune, reducing the likelihood of transmission to susceptible individuals.

A legally binding WHO framework requiring member states to detect, assess, report, and respond to public health events of international concern.

The number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births during a specified time period, reflecting the quality and accessibility of obstetric care.

A diverse group of communicable diseases prevalent in tropical regions that disproportionately affect populations living in poverty.

Chronic diseases that are not spread from person to person, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes.

A collaborative, multisectoral approach recognizing the interconnection between the health of people, animals, plants, and the shared environment.

An epidemic of infectious disease that has spread across a large region, typically multiple continents or worldwide, affecting a substantial number of people.

The first level of contact with a health system, providing comprehensive, accessible, community-based care as emphasized in the Alma-Ata Declaration of 1978.

A measure of disease burden that accounts for both the quality and quantity of life lived, used in economic evaluations of health interventions.

The economic and social conditions that influence individual and population health, including income, education, employment, housing, and environment.

The goal of ensuring all people have access to needed health services of sufficient quality without suffering financial hardship.

The administration of a vaccine to stimulate the immune system to develop immunity against a specific pathogen, preventing future infection or reducing disease severity.

Vertical programs target specific diseases (e.g., polio eradication), while horizontal programs strengthen overall health systems. Modern approaches often integrate both strategies.

An infectious disease caused by pathogens that spread from non-human animals to humans, including viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi.