Description: HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and diarrheal disease are the four biggest contributors to the burden of disease in sub-Saharan Africa and represent a serious constraint on economic growth. They kill nearly 4 million African adults and children annually. Readings from the public health, economic and medical literature will focus on the main debates surrounding policy interventions to combat these diseases. The class will examine and evaluate the evidence on the nature of these diseases and the effectiveness of current interventions in Africa and other parts of the developing world. Through class discussion, small group exercises and writing assignments, students will hone their skills in policy and economic analysis. For the final project, students will develop policy recommendations for governments of developing countries on a global health issue of their choice.
Learning Objectives: At the completion of this course, students will be expected to:
1. Become familiar with sources of evidence on the effectiveness and appropriateness of policy interventions.
2. Be able to discern reliable sources of evidence and identify limitations of the evidence.
3. Develop skills in using economic concepts to support specific policy interventions.
4. Develop skills in determining appropriate health policy interventions.
5. Develop skills in articulating and advocating policy positions through written submissions and in-class discussion.
