Role of non-governmental organizations in global health

Abstract

Global health also refers to 'inherently global health issues', that is, health-determining phenomena that transcend national borders and political jurisdictions, such as globalization and climate change. NGOs include charitable and religious associations that mobilize private funds for development, distribute food and family planning services and promote community organization. They also include independent cooperatives, community associations, water-user societies, women’s groups and pastoral associations. To contribute to shared global health objectives, NGOs should work in close partnership with a wide array of international agencies and institutions to shape global health policies and to fund, implement, and evaluate programs. Non-governmental organizations are a basic element in the representation of the modern world. And their participation in international organizations is in a way a guarantee of the latter’s political legitimacy. From the stand point of global democratization, we need the participation of international public opinion and the mobilizing powers of non-governmental organizations.