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Nongovernmental Agencies Involved in Global Issues
The case for global health demands collective commitment and new thinking strategies to bridge the boundaries across communities. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) hold a position of importance stemming from their role as aids for government activities and as spearheading of initiatives aimed at the enhancement of public health on a global level (World Health Organization [WHO], 2019). This analysis explores the intricate relations amid and governmental programs in the context of the overall care this world health, the main stakeholders are to be advantage for they objectives, the funds and their operational plan. The Institute of Medicine is the place that demonstrates the significance of global health among the USA citizens by showing that the interests and health concerns of people overlap and cannot be isolated. Given the way that health issues cut across borders resulting in the convergence of health disparities among developed and developing countries, it is discernible that focusing on improving health issues with a holistic approach to healthcare delivery is paramount (WHO, 2019). NURS FPX 8014 Assessment 1: Nongovernmental Agencies Involved in Global Issues: The World Health Organization emphasizes health equity as the fundamental reason for monitoring a population’s well-being, stressing the role of fair distribution of health resources and that everybody should be protected from health-related disadvantages.
Differentiation Between Public Health NGOs from Governmental Public Health Organizations
There exist public health non-governmental organizations and governmental public health bodies of different types whose structures, funding sources, and modes of operation constantly differ from one another. The realization that these two kinds of institutions are not the same and, consequently, that their designs differ is the key to understanding the differences that exist between them, particularly about the resolution of global health problems. Public health NGOs usually exist as independent non-profit organizations with international reach, although they could submit to government support (GrantSpace, n.d.). They have goal-oriented missions and goals corresponding to public health, mainly stopping the spread of diseases, health promotion, and improving healthcare availability for people without sufficient support in most cases. Unlike governmental organizations which are essentially indirect partners of national governments and make decisions with a certain level of autonomy in the implementation of programs, NGOs do not have such association (Médecins Sans Frontières, 2020). To cite an example, Mèdecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an internationally reputed public health NGO that differentiates itself through its emergency medical interventions in crisis-hit regions anywhere in the globe. Theorem of voluntary medical professionals and operations with a decentralized structure is Médecins Sans Frontières. It allows removing the health system from government control or influence to deliver essential health services.
NURS FPX 8014 Assessment 1: Advantages of Public Health NGOs
Among several key benefits offered by Public Health NGOs to erect challenges of global health problems, the government-linked programs are not listed. Organizations that have these benefits are characterized by their agility, organizational efficiency, and ability to respond quickly to changing health risks. Such benefits evaluation creates a clear picture as to how and how much NGOs differentiate themselves in the global health system. Flexibility and Adaptability: NGOs in public health provide unorthodox approaches and the capacity to swiftly change that is practically unparalleled by programs sponsored by the government. NGOs having their authority can always turn into survival mode by just adjusting their strategies and operations, for such unpredictable health needs and changing environments, to ensure their long survival. The flexibility provided by NGOs helps in perceived gaps in healthcare delivery, to the underserved population categories, and also in the implementation of even the innovative techniques that for the bureaucratic nature of governmental organizations could be otherwise impossible (Keshavjee, et. al., 2021). Innovation and Experimentation: NGOs are known to be the masters of brewing modern and up-to-date methods of tackling public health problems. In comparison to government-funded projects that could be strapped by regulatory frameworks and bureaucratic mechanisms, NGOs operate in a more flexible and innovative world where they can explore new models, technologies, and partnerships that serve their community better. Such a committed and innovative spirit gives NGOs the power to forge new paths, test out approaches, and make more effective policies that later the government can incorporate.
Challenges Public Health NGOs Have
Globally acting NGOs in public health are facing a host of obstacles that are different from government-funded health initiatives and thus compromise their elaborate fight against the most acute global problems. Not comprehending these hurdles we can’t be able to realize all the hindrances and doctrines that are to be ours and look how can we come across their influence.
Resource Constraints: The articulation of a huge challenge for public health NGO is to which is to resource limitation. Unlike government-sponsored programs which have storage, manpower, and other financial resources, many local non-governmental organizations have to work with limited budgets and rely on contributions, individuals’ donations, and volunteers. Lack of monetary means could limit the achievement of an NGO organization, influencing its spread and the possibility to gather resources to run long-term programs for needy citizens (Darnhofer et al., 2020).
Sustainability Issues: The NGOs for public health face sustainability problems to a great extent, especially in the resource-scarce situations where the funding is either unsteady or the tenure of funding is short-lived. Shortage of requisite financial means and want of coaleries may hinder the functioning of NGOs in offering necessary healthcare services, training local medical workers, and developing strong health systems. The absence of sustainable budgetary arrangements can hamper both the continuation and effectiveness of charitable initiatives and result in these organizations’ inability to ensure healthcare delivery on an on-going basis and thereby achieving sub-optimal health results (Wang et al., 2021).
Sufficiency of Data Available to Meet the Criteria
As regards public health, NGOs assume a vital part by way of selecting and referring to social issues that needs thorough interventions, with their decisions being made by employing a data-driven approach. Evaluation of the amount of data accessible for use based on the criteria of NGOs that are applied is crucial for understanding the factors contributing to the choice of health issues and the way they choose their criteria.
Data Availability and Quality: Public health NGOs make use of a range of data sources to evaluate the distribution, extent, importance, local as well as global, of health problems. They can entail the use of epidemiological surveys, demographic studies, health facility records among others, as well as community-based assessments. Besides, the fact that the data availability and quality vary greatly from one area to the other and from one condition to another may become a bottleneck during the data gathering exercise for NGOs as far as obtaining complete and reliable information for their decision-making is concerned. In resource-constrained contexts and areas affected by conflict or humanitarian crisis though, data inconsistencies may reduce the level of accuracy and reliability of health assessments, therefore it becomes difficult for NGOs to prioritise health issues accordingly as compared to developed areas (Lozano et al., 2019).
Methods for Data Collection and Analysis: NGOs may use the different types of methods of data collection and analysis to have a clue on the scale and scope of health problems in a given population and their consequences on the population. The packages of these strategies may involve numerical surveys, qualitative interviews, participatory research approaches, and data modeling (Yadav et al., 2020). NGOs frequently cooperate with local partners, academic bodies, and governance sectors and utilize their capabilities and resources to obtain and analyze data, whereas the information is produced on evidence basis with regards to the priorities of health aspects. Other technologies that might NGOs adopt include mobile data collection tools, GIS, and remote sensing methods that are useful for accurate and efficient data from the ground.
NURS FPX 8014 Assessment 1: Practicum Research and Interviewing Experiences
Engaging in practicum research and interviewing experiences has provided valuable insights into the complexities of public health organizations and service delivery, challenging and reshaping my assumptions about the field. Reflecting on these experiences, I recognize several key learnings that will inform my future professional practice in public health.
Understanding Organizational Dynamics: Through interactions with public health NGOs and governmental agencies, I gained a deeper understanding of the diverse organizational structures, cultures, and operational challenges within the public health sector. While I initially assumed that NGOs operated with greater flexibility and autonomy compared to government-sponsored programs, I discovered that both types of organizations navigate complex bureaucratic processes, resource constraints, and stakeholder dynamics that influence decision-making and service delivery (Smith et al., 2020). This realization underscores the importance of appreciating the nuances of organizational contexts and building effective partnerships to achieve shared public health goals.
Recognizing Data Challenges: Researching data sufficiency for public health NGOs highlighted the significant challenges and limitations in data availability, quality, and utilization. Despite efforts to gather and analyze data systematically, I encountered data gaps, inconsistencies, and methodological limitations that affected the accuracy and reliability of health assessments (Jones & Brown, 2019). This experience challenged my assumption that public health organizations always have access to comprehensive and reliable data for decision-making. Moving forward, I recognize the importance of advocating for investments in data infrastructure, capacity building, and data-sharing mechanisms to improve evidence-based decision-making and enhance public health outcomes.
Conclusion
To sum up, Nongovernmental agencies (NGOs) possibly serve as a supportive arm in the journey of addressing global health issues by working in collaborations with governmental organizations, as well as plugging any existing gaps in healthcare service delivery worldwide. Here by this assessment, we had an examination of how NGOs differ from government supported programmes with regard to who has been in operation first, their financial state, strategic operations, and the global health programs they affect. Non-profit organizations, utilizing their independence as a non-governmental entity, introduce advantages over the governmental programs, such as flexibility, creative effectiveness, community engagement, rapid responsiveness and high level of advocacy. Such NGOs achieve this by using their advantages, and they are very important in dealing with the health disparities, championing health equality and, prompting public health agendas at the local, national, and the global scale. But besides difficulties of this kind, NGOs have to face budget limitations, challenges of sustainability, constraining coordination and political problems that should be solved or alleviated through collective efforts to eliminate or mitigate them.
NURS FPX 8014 Assessment 1: References
Dagher, R. K., & Linares, D. E. (2022). A critical review on the complex interplay between social determinants of health and maternal and infant mortality. Children, 9(3), 394. https://doi.org/10.3390/children9030394
Jailobaeva, K., Falconer, J., Loffreda, G., Arakelyan, S., Witter, S., & Ager, A. (2021). An analysis of policy and funding priorities of global actors regarding noncommunicable disease in low- and middle-income countries. Globalization and Health, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-021-00713-4
Schiff, D., Borenstein, J., Biddle, J., & Laas, K. (2021). AI ethics in the public, private, and NGO sectors: A review of a global document collection. IEEE Transactions on Technology and Society, 2(1), 31–42. https://doi.org/10.1109/tts.2021.3052127
Simoncic, V., Deguen, S., Enaux, C., Vandentorren, S., & Kihal-Talantikite, W. (2022). A comprehensive review on social inequalities and pregnancy outcome—identification of relevant pathways and mechanisms. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(24), 16592. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416592
Storeng, K. T., Palmer, J., Daire, J., & Kloster, M. O. (2018). Behind the scenes: International ngos’ influence on reproductive health policy in malawi and south sudan. Global Public Health, 14(4), 555–569. https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2018.1446545
Sullivan, D. R., Iyer, A. S., Enguidanos, S., Cox, C. E., Farquhar, M., Janssen, D. J. A., Lindell, K. O., Mularski, R. A., Smallwood, N., Turnbull, A. E., Wilkinson, A. M., Courtright, K. R., Maddocks, M., McPherson, M. L., Thornton, J. D., Campbell, M. L., Fasolino, T. K., Fogelman, P. M., Gershon, L., & Gershon, T. (2022). Palliative care early in the care continuum among patients with serious respiratory illness: An official ATS/AAHPM/HPNA/SWHPN policy statement. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 206(6), e44–e69. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.202207-1262st
Watterson, A. (2020). COVID-19 in the UK and occupational health and safety: Predictable not inevitable failures by government, and trade union and nongovernmental organization responses. NEW SOLUTIONS: A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy, 30(2), 86–94.
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Nongovernmental Agencies Involved in Global Issues
Mental health of an individual comprises their mental, emotional, and sociable health. It is a part of their overall health. Mental health issues impact many people globally. For instance, there are over 264 million people affected by sadness (Ekong & Iniodu, 2021). The Mental Health Program in the United States was established by a non-governmental organization (NGO) called the Carter Center to tackle the global health challenge. The program aims at facilitating the accessibility of promotion of psychological well-being aid and diminishment of stigma along with fostering consciousness in the United States as well as in other regions worldwide, notably in resource-constrained settings like Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Nepal (The Carter Center, n.d.). NURS FPX 8014 Assessment 1: Nongovernmental Agencies Involved in Global Issues, The Mental Health Program of The Carter Center demonstrates the role of nongovernmental organizations in overcoming global mental health challenges through skill-building, public awareness-raising, and policy advocacy.
Contrasts Amidst Nonprofit Entities and State-Run Public Health Agencies
Nonprofit organizations and publicly-managed health initiatives bodies both work towards enhancing the health of people, but they differ in their structure, monetary resources, and methods of functioning (Valaitis et al., 2020).NGO’s are independent, nonprofit organizations that don’t work for the government but can receive money from the government. They have more flexibility, not being constrained by the same rules and requirements as government agencies, which makes them more attuned to new health requirements (Mikeladze, 2021). One international NGO, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), offers immediate medical response during war, diseases and disasters, mostly in areas that are not accessible or undeprived (MSF, 2023).
However, the public health organizations of the government are funded and managed by the government.They operate within the specified structure, and they adhere to the laid down rules and regulations (Cleverley et al., 202~ ). A portion of these groups, for instance, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) should function for the benefit of the public and be accountable to lawmakers and taxpayers (Romaguera & Meenakshi Lakshman, 2022). In this case, CDC is a public health service, which is responsible for protecting the health and safety of the nation by preventing and controlling infections, accidents, and disabilities (CDC, 2023). It is a well-recognized NGO, which focuses to improve the mental health across the world (Berggren, 2020). NURS FPX 8014 Assessment 1: Nongovernmental Agencies Involved in Global Issues, The Mental Health Program of the organization started in 1991 and operates in over 40 countries to develop people’s capabilities, cut shame, and promote policies (The Carter Center, n.d.). In Liberia, for instance, more than 200 mental health practitioners have been trained by the program and assisted in establishing the nation’s premier certified graduate-level mental health training institution (Gupta, 2024).
The Carter Center is sound financially. It will earn more than $130 million in 2020 through donations from individuals, charities, and business partners (InfluenceWatch, n.d.). Its mental health programs are carried out by people from the group in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nepal, and so on with local governments, NGOs, and academic institutions. They are selected by their proficiency, background, and passion for the organization’s goals. They could include mental health practitioners, experts, supporters, and individuals with lived experience of mental health challenges..
Advantages of Public Health NGOs
NGO’s that work on public health have some advantages over programs run by the government. First, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are usually more flexible and can easily adopt new health needs and targets. This is because they are not constrained by the same political and administrative issues which government organizations are. (Makkar et al., 2023) This gives NGOs an opportunity to innovate on how to address the health issues and try them out. Also, NGOs typically can obtain funds from a number of different sources, such as private charities, individual people, and corporations. This can enable them to enjoy a more balanced and diversified funding base. NURS FPX 8014 Assessment 1: Nongovernmental Agencies Involved in Global Issues, Third, NGOs are mediators in the interface of societies and governing bodies, championing the health requisites of marginalized communities and allowing everyone to have a voice in health decisions (McDonough & Rodríguez, 2020).
Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are usually favored by a variety of givers including individuals, foundations, or corporate sponsors. They can employ various methods of raising funds, such as direct mail campaigns, online donation platforms, and even special events, to solicit donations from people who care about their cause (Bocquet et al., 2020). Most of the time, programs run by the government are financed by taxes and budget amounts, and these amounts depend on politics and various goals (León et al., 2020). Nonprofit organizations frequently possess greater adaptability in distributing their finances, given their ability to determine the distribution of their resources according to the community needs and the performance of their programs. Conversely, programs financed by the government have limitations as to how much they can receive and how they can be distributed, usually in relation to specific policy goals and success measures (Jiao, 2021). Finally, seeking for help from NGOs is easier and faster than seeking for help from the government, since NGOs can adjust their registration requirements and application processes to the needs of the clients they want to help.
NURS FPX 8014 Assessment 1: Challenges Faced by NGOs
However, there are also some issues unique to public health NGOs. One major issue is ensuring that NGOs can operate for a long time. This is mainly because they rely on people’s money and donations, which is usually uncertain and lasts for a short time (Mikeladze, 2021). This circumstance can pose challenges for nonprofit organizations in formulating and implementing enduring plans and projects because they may have to constantly switch their plans when funds and objectives change. On the contrary, government-sponsored programs tend to be more predictable in terms of their sources of funding, as the changes usually occur due to politics and budget cuts. NGOs may be criticized, doubted and questioned about their aims, efficiency and use of funds by stakeholders and sometimes those doubts may lead to negative impact on their effectiveness (Jacobsmeier, 2020).
It is also necessary to consider that non-government organizations might require support in terms of coordination of their activities with the activities carried out by the governmental agencies and other organizations, operating within this field, which might lead to gaps, overlap or conflicts (Kwao & Amoak, 2022). On the other hand, the activities of government-sponsored initiatives tend to be more efficient in organization and relation with other public sector projects as they belong to a larger formal structure. NGOs may also require assistance to enlarge their programs and revolutionize the entire system, given their typically limited scale of operations and minimal sway over national policies and objectives. However, the impact of government-funded programs may be larger due to their direct reach to public resources and involvement in the decision-making process (SANDHU et al., 2022).
Sufficiency of Data Availability
When public health NGOs opt to participate in a health issue, they assess the ease of getting data as well as the quality of the data. In order to determine the magnitude, severity, and outcomes of a health problem, NGOs often use different data sources, including demographic surveys, community health camp reports, and program evaluation reports (Parmar et al., 2021). As an example, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME)’s Global Burden of Disease (GBD) research furnishes exhaustive data about occurrence, rate, and impact of several health conditions in different countries or regions (IHME, 2023). Using GBD statistics, NGOs regularly look for health problems which needs restoration and then orders them by priority.
However, it may not be sufficient, since, it depends on the situation and the health problem being investigated. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) find it challenging to obtain a clear picture of the number of diseases and the effectiveness of treatments in many nations because of deficiencies in their healthcare information systems (Hoxha et al., 2020). A research conducted by Okonofua et al. in 2022 unveiled that in sub-Saharan Africa, merely 1 out of 3 births and 1 out of 2 deaths were officially recorded. This underscores the challenge of acquiring dependable health data in economically disadvantaged areas.
With regard to mental health, a topic that is typically stigmatized and underdiscussed, the data we have on the subject might not completely reveal how extensive and damaging mental health issues are to individuals and populations. Research conducted by Moitra et al. (2022) discovered that the disparity in mental health care exceeds 90% in middle income countries. This is in part because there is not enough clear data about the prevalence and the impact of these conditions on people.
Despite these issues, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) attempt to address the global health problems through a process of data-driven decision making. To illustrate, the Mental Health Program at the Carter Center most likely considers a set of criteria in the process of deciding to engage in some mental health problem or project. Some of these factors might incorporating the prevalence and severity of the mental health issue, as indicated by details of how many people are affected, how much pain and disability they experience, and how much the condition costs society and the economy (The Carter Center, n.d.-b). NURS FPX 8014 Assessment 1: Nongovernmental Agencies Involved in Global Issues, The treatment gap statistics, the barriers to care, and the services accessible and convenient to use help a program to determine the magnitude of the unmet need for mental health services. The program can also analyze neoclassical concerns by investigating what others have done in the past and how successful it was, what its local partners are capable of, the political situation, and the cultural situation.
NURS FPX 8014 Assessment 1: Criteria Developing Methods
NGOs use different methods to determine the factors they use to decide upon which health issues to concentrate. Merry et al. (2023) have suggested a number of ways to do this, which include finding out what people need; speaking to local experts and stakeholders; reviewing old research and data; and ensuring the plan is consistent with global health objectives and frameworks. The NGOs aim to ensure that their standards are updated, practical and relevant to the most important health needs of the groups they serve through both evidence-based and collaborative approaches.
Research and Interviewing Experiences
Interviewing the experts and undertaking study on the public health organizations and service has shown to me that I am not as stupid, or the study and research has proven to be correct what I thought I knew. During my training, I had the opportunity to collaborate closely with a nonprofit organization in the public health sector, dedicated to assisting individuals facing mental health challenges in nations. This experience has demonstrated to me how difficult issues and new approaches that are necessary in order to offer the public health care.
I was aware of the general process of what public health groups do to improve a community’s health before this event. However, as I researched and spoke with NGO staff and other important people, I also got to know more about the various means by which the public health entities tackle health concerns. These are community-engaged research, advocacy for policies, and enhancement of capabilities (Alang et al., 2020). What was surprising to me is how dedicated the NGO was in regarding communities as stakeholders in development and implementation of treatments. They were aware that indigenous wisdom and ownership were pivotal in guaranteeing the longevity and efficacy of these initiatives.
Besides, my training in the field also taught me the significance of the collaborative approach of people from different disciplines where communities, academics and policymakers work together in solving tough public health issues (Zhang, 2020). NURS FPX 8014 Assessment 1: Nongovernmental Agencies Involved in Global Issues: I observed how this NGO deliberately adjoined to government agencies, academic institutions, and other civil society organizations to promote its mental health objectives using their resources, knowledge, and power.
However, I also realized the peculiar difficulties that NGOs encounter, namely, they have to ensure that they can remain in the business for a long time and how to operate in politically and culturally complex environments. I witnessed how the NGO did not stop, but continued raising funds, developing local talents and advocating for policy changes that would facilitate the inclusion of mental health services into primary care facilities (Okonofua et al., 2022). This activity has given me a clearer picture of how NGOs and government programs collaborate with one another to achieve public health objectives. The above experience has only increased my resolve to work in global health. I want to develop and utilize evidence-based, situation-specific, and shared solutions to the important health problems, especially in resource-limited settings.
