- Published: September 27, 2022
- Updated: September 27, 2022
- University / College: University of Washington
- Level: Undergraduate
- Language: English
- Downloads: 10
Health Issue of Aboriginal Affiliation: The aboriginal are aware of their health issues based on the number of illnesses they have as well as the numerous visits they make to the health centers. They however blame the government and the issue of racism on their predicament and not the fact that majority are uneducated hence are not aware of the best nutritional health and taking health precautions like the rest of the civilized communities. They have continued to isolate themselves from the rest of the population and hence continue to be left behind when changes in health sector are taking place and this explains their predicament (Dudgeon, Milroy & Walker, 2013).
The aboriginal people have started accepting that their health is at stake and they need to change their attitude and stop playing the victim card and start taking steps to safeguarding their health. In this regard therefore, they have started getting into partnerships with other aboriginals in order to seek resources to empower their community on better health. They have also started seeking funding to cater for their education, to improve their nutrition, address their primary health care as well as engage in other health care management issues that are causing their deaths and contributing heavily as their health problems (Dudgeon, Milroy & Walker, 2013).
The government is starting to educate the medicine and nursing students on how to address the aboriginal health problems in order to cater for early prevention as well as manage the illnesses in large numbers. It has also increased its health care expenditure on the aboriginals which increased the number of people that will be benefiting health wise among the aboriginals. The government has also stared improving some of the social services contributing to some illnesses including homelessness by providing rental programs on cheaper houses. The other programs include residential aged care programs, disability programs as well as those on maternal and child care (Eckerman, et al. 2010).
The aboriginals are still being faced with racism and discrimination more than 200 years later and the civilized people have a hard time accepting them and this puts them at a disadvantage for health programs as they are left behind. Their health problems have therefore constantly failed to be mainstreamed with of other ethnic groups. As a result of them being discriminated, they have minimal health services within their reach and the few present are not accessible as these people are located in remote parts of the country and access becomes difficult at all times (Dudgeon, Milroy & Walker, 2013).
In a bid to improve cross-cultural understanding, it is the work of the government and the relevant private sectors to start public recognition of the aboriginals. This will contribute towards ending the discrimination and prejudice that has surrounded these people and hence start improving their chances of getting quality and accessible health care. Education should be encouraged through different programs which will foster gaining of knowledge on the general issues but specifically concentrate on nutrition, prevention medicine among other health care issues. Lastly, integration of the aboriginals into other government programs other than just the welfare programs will foster equality (Eckerman, et al. 2010).
References
Dudgeon, P., Milroy, H. & Walker, R. (2013). Working Together: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Wellbeing Principles and Practice. Subiaco: Telethon Institute for Child Health Research.
Eckerman, A, Dowd, T., Chong, E., Nixon, N. & Gray, R. (2010). Binan Goonj: Bridging cultures in Aboriginal health. New Jersey: Elsevier Health Sciences.