IELTS Reading Practice: The Role of International Organizations in Global Health

The IELTS Reading section is a crucial component of the exam, testing your ability to comprehend complex texts and extract relevant information. Today, we’ll focus on a topic that has become increasingly important in recent years: “The role of international organizations in global health.” This subject has appeared in past IELTS exams and, given its ongoing relevance, is likely to feature in future tests as well.

Global health has been at the forefront of international discourse, especially in light of recent worldwide health crises. Understanding the role of international organizations in addressing these challenges is not only crucial for your IELTS preparation but also for your general knowledge. Let’s dive into a practice reading passage on this topic, followed by a set of questions to test your comprehension and analytical skills.

International health organizations meeting

Reading Passage

The Crucial Role of International Organizations in Global Health

International organizations play a pivotal role in addressing global health challenges, coordinating responses to health crises, and promoting health equity worldwide. These organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), operate on a global scale to tackle issues that transcend national borders and require collaborative efforts.

The World Health Organization, established in 1948 as a specialized agency of the United Nations, serves as the primary international body responsible for global public health. WHO’s mandate includes setting international health standards, providing technical assistance to countries, and coordinating international health efforts. During health emergencies, such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic, WHO plays a crucial role in information dissemination, resource allocation, and guiding global response strategies.

UNICEF, while primarily known for its work in children’s rights and development, also contributes significantly to global health initiatives, particularly those affecting children and mothers. The organization works to improve access to healthcare, nutrition, and clean water in developing countries, which are fundamental to preventing diseases and promoting overall health.

Médecins Sans Frontières, also known as Doctors Without Borders, provides medical assistance in crisis situations, often being among the first responders in conflict zones or areas hit by natural disasters. Their work is crucial in providing immediate healthcare in areas where local health systems are overwhelmed or non-existent.

These organizations face numerous challenges in their mission to improve global health. One significant hurdle is the disparity in healthcare access and quality between developed and developing nations. International health organizations work to bridge this gap by providing resources, expertise, and support to countries with limited healthcare infrastructure.

Another challenge is the emergence of new health threats, such as antibiotic-resistant bacteria and novel viruses. These organizations play a key role in monitoring such threats, coordinating research efforts, and developing strategies to combat them on a global scale.

Funding is a persistent issue for many international health organizations. They rely heavily on donations from governments, private entities, and individuals to carry out their work. Ensuring consistent and adequate funding is crucial for maintaining long-term health programs and responding effectively to sudden health crises.

Despite these challenges, international health organizations have achieved remarkable successes. The eradication of smallpox, declared by WHO in 1980, stands as one of the greatest achievements in public health history. Significant progress has also been made in reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases.

Looking to the future, international health organizations are increasingly focusing on sustainable development and health equity. They recognize that health is intrinsically linked to other global issues such as poverty, education, and climate change. As such, their approach is becoming more holistic, addressing not just immediate health concerns but also the underlying social and environmental factors that impact global health.

In conclusion, international organizations play an indispensable role in global health. Their efforts in disease prevention, health promotion, and crisis response contribute significantly to the well-being of populations worldwide. As global health challenges continue to evolve, the role of these organizations in coordinating international efforts and promoting health equity remains more crucial than ever.

Questions

True/False/Not Given

Determine whether the following statements are True, False, or Not Given based on the information in the passage:

1. The World Health Organization was established in the mid-20th century.
2. UNICEF focuses exclusively on children’s health issues.
3. Médecins Sans Frontières primarily operates in developed countries.
4. The eradication of smallpox is considered one of the greatest achievements in public health history.
5. International health organizations face no financial challenges in their operations.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct answer, A, B, C, or D:

6. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT a major challenge faced by international health organizations?
   A) Disparity in healthcare access between countries
   B) Emergence of new health threats
   C) Funding issues
   D) Lack of technological advancements

7. The passage suggests that the approach of international health organizations is becoming more:
   A) Specialized
   B) Localized
   C) Holistic
   D) Competitive

Matching Information

Match the following information to the correct organization (A-C). You may use each letter more than once:

A) World Health Organization (WHO)
B) UNICEF
C) Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

8. Provides immediate medical assistance in crisis situations
9. Sets international health standards
10. Works to improve access to healthcare for children and mothers
11. Coordinates global response strategies during health emergencies

Short Answer Questions

Answer the following questions using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage:

12. What type of bacteria is mentioned as a new health threat?
13. In addition to health concerns, what other global issues are international health organizations focusing on?

Answer Key and Explanations

1. True – The passage states that WHO was established in 1948.

2. False – The passage mentions that UNICEF also contributes to global health initiatives, particularly those affecting children and mothers.

3. False – The passage states that MSF provides medical assistance in crisis situations, often in conflict zones or areas hit by natural disasters, which are typically in developing countries.

4. True – The passage explicitly states this.

5. False – The passage mentions that funding is a persistent issue for many international health organizations.

6. D – The passage does not mention lack of technological advancements as a challenge.

7. C – The passage states that their approach is becoming more holistic.

8. C – MSF is described as providing immediate medical assistance in crisis situations.

9. A – WHO is mentioned as setting international health standards.

10. B – UNICEF is described as working to improve access to healthcare for children and mothers.

11. A – WHO is mentioned as coordinating global response strategies during health emergencies.

12. Antibiotic-resistant

13. Sustainable development

Common Mistakes

When tackling a reading passage like this, students often make the following mistakes:

1. Overlooking specific details: Pay close attention to dates, names, and specific information provided in the text.
2. Making assumptions: Avoid drawing conclusions not explicitly stated in the passage, especially for True/False/Not Given questions.
3. Misinterpreting “Not Given”: Remember, “Not Given” means the information is neither confirmed nor contradicted by the passage.
4. Failing to use the exact words from the text: For short answer questions, it’s crucial to use the exact words or phrases from the passage.

Vocabulary

Here are some challenging words from the passage along with their definitions:

1. Pivotal (adjective) – /ˈpɪvətl/ – of crucial importance in relation to the development or success of something else
2. Transcend (verb) – /trænˈsend/ – to go beyond the usual limits of something; to exceed
3. Mandate (noun) – /ˈmændeɪt/ – an official order or commission to do something
4. Dissemination (noun) – /dɪˌsemɪˈneɪʃn/ – the act of spreading something, especially information, widely
5. Disparity (noun) – /dɪˈspærəti/ – a great difference
6. Eradication (noun) – /ɪˌrædɪˈkeɪʃn/ – the complete destruction of something

Grammar Focus

Pay attention to the use of present perfect tense in the passage, for example:

“Significant progress has also been made in reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases.”

This tense is used to describe actions that started in the past and continue to have relevance in the present. It’s formed using “have/has” + past participle.

Tips for IELTS Reading Success

1. Time management is crucial. Spend about 20 minutes on each passage in the IELTS Reading test.
2. Skim the passage quickly first to get a general idea before answering questions.
3. Read the questions carefully and underline key words.
4. For True/False/Not Given questions, look for specific evidence in the text. Don’t make assumptions based on general knowledge.
5. Practice regularly with diverse topics to improve your reading speed and comprehension.
6. Build your vocabulary, especially in areas related to social issues, science, and current affairs.
7. Pay attention to transition words and linking phrases to understand the flow of ideas in the passage.

Remember, success in IELTS Reading comes with consistent practice and developing effective strategies. Keep working on your skills, and you’ll see improvement over time.

For more practice on IELTS Reading, you might find our articles on challenges of providing quality healthcare in remote areas and challenges of managing public health crises helpful. These topics are closely related to global health issues and can provide additional context and vocabulary practice.