It is clear from this article, titled "The Challenge of Global Health," by Laurie Garrett, that there is a new influx of funding to certain areas of global health (like the sharing of drugs by GlaxoSmithKline), but not to public health in general. Rather funding is being focused into specific categories, like high-profile diseases, leaving an uncoordinated and lackluster effort to address public health goals as a whole. It is very difficult to determine which problems should be addressed and where funding should go, due to the vast array of health issues, and developmental issues affecting nations across the globe. As actors and their interests are the main factors that determine where funds are allocated, it is important to focus on them when addressing this issue. I came across the strong influence of these actors and their interests even while I was at the Talibé Center in Senegal this summer. It was well known while I was there that one volunteer was very wealthy, had some political influence, and had donated a lot of money to the Center. His requests were always given priority, before other volunteers' or community members' request were heard. This certainly affects the decision-making power of any discerning governing body, which must allocate and appropriate funds.

It is also important to recognize whom specifically a global health problem affects. For example, in our last class session we discussed that even though not a large number of people were dying of smallpox, it severely diminished the quality of life of those who contracted the virus. Thus, it was debatable whether or not the health campaign should have been implemented for the good of the population, and whether or not funds (although they were already allocated to this project) should have been directed at a problem, which affected so few people globally.

Should funds ever be allocated in the field of global health, based on the influence or economic power of one actor or interest?

Should funds be dispersed based on the quantity of people affected by a problem, or the severeness or diminished quality of life that this problem is characterized by?