Human Life Expectancy

Healthcare Programs Positively Impacting

Human Life Expectancy

Healthcare Programs Positively Impacting

Human Life Expectancy

Human life expectancy in the United States and European developed countries has seen a remarkable improvement during the last century. In the United States, Public Health is credited with adding almost 30 years to the life expectancy of people at birth since the beginning of the 20th century. Life expectancy “increased by 62%, from 47.3 years in 1900 to 76.8 in 2000, and unprecedented improvements in population health status were observed at every stage of life” (CDC, 2011). The improvements in health care, sanitation, access to clean water, reduction and control of infectious diseases due to public vaccination programs, improved nutrition, and rising economic living standards have significantly contributed to a higher average life expectancy.

Although advances in scientific knowledge in public health have led to these major improvements, much can still be done to reduce mortality in the US population and the rest of the world. With a budget of $100M, I would fund several programs in the US that I deem to have the greatest impact on future increases in average life expectancy. Understandably, this $100M would have a much greater impact in “third world” countries, where improved maternal and newborn health, ample nutrition, clean water and vaccinations would give the millions of dying children a fighting chance to reach a reasonably old age.

First, I would allocate approximately one quarter of my budget ($25M) for continued research and education in vaccination programs. Vaccinations have been extremely successful in combating infectious diseases, thus increasing the overall health of the population and reducing mortality from preventable diseases. The two population groups that would reap the most benefits from vaccinations have been shown to be the very young and the elderly.

The second...