The Health Needs of People in Tropical Countries, Growth of Malignant Diseases and Coexistence of Extremes

Abstract

Besides being home to 80 % of the world’s population, tropical countries also have the world’s greatest social and economic contrasts. Though there has been progress, most societies in the least developed countries are still without the fundamentals of development—education, health and a better standard of living—whereas in emerging countries, development indicators are catching up with those of the developed countries. Even so, at all latitudes, the contrast between rich and poor is increasing. Health needs are the outworking of these dynamics. The incidence of malignant diseases is increasing everywhere and in a few decades has become a major national health focus for emerging countries.