‘Infectious disease is due to poverty; non-communicable disease is about affluence’ To what extent do you agree? (20)

The epidemiological transition sees a downturn in cases of infectious diseases and a simultaneous increase in non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The age of pestilence becomes the age of receding pandemics that makes way for the age of degenerative and man-made diseases. The 1971 Omran model depicts that development leads to decreased communicable and more lifestyle diseases with them seemingly agreeing with the statement. The reality however, is broader than that with malaria remaining a disease that has killed around half people that have ever lived and 3 billion people remaining in risk areas. Thus, we cannot assume that poverty alone is the cause. Physical factors are definitely a factor. In the case of malaria, the survival of the vector depends on a certain temperature and an elevation above 500 feet. Additionally, there is a lack of understanding about the complex 7-life-stage parasite and 12 species of vectors that transmit the disease. Malaria research was halted in the 50s during ‘the worst mistake ever made in public health’ which meant the disease became concentrated in the most isolated and hard-to-reach areas. The initiative was coordinated in the US and thus we cannot blame poverty but an incompetence and failure from those who are meant to provide the most help.NCD’s are increasingly prevalent in developing countries with 7/10 deaths globally resulting from chronic disease. The most alarming environmental cause is air pollution and a WHO study places Delhi top of 1600 cities for particulate concentration in an impending ‘air-pocalypse’ that is claiming 7.2 million lives globally. This proves that NCDs are equally as common in countries with worse infrastructure and policy too. The statement does ring true in regard to obesity. Here sedentary behaviour and increased consumption of macronutrients are driving up levels of obesity with 2/3s of the population being over a healthy BMI. In conclusion, I agree with the statement to a certain extent. I would agree that infectious disease is a result of a lack of healthcare, infrastructure and primary services. Whereas I would argue that non-communicable disease is not only associated with affluence. Instead it is becoming a global public health issue; not just a ‘disease of the rich’.