The more the public knows about health and how to prevent disease, the better equipped people are to prevent illness and promote good health within their communities. This is true both at home and in every country around the world. Improved public awareness and understanding of how to promote health and prevent disease worldwide is the goal of the global health program. Educating people on health matters faces its own challenges in every country around the world, but the global health program also works to promote good health and the prevention of disease at home.

The global health program puts its aim of increasing public health knowledge into effect by various means. These include educating health professionals to a high standard in order to ensure that they have the knowledge and experience to recognise and treat diseases in an effective and timely way. Health professionals have regular contact with people in their area and an insight into local attitudes and culture. With the help and support of the global health program they are able to reach out to and inform the people who live in their area on the steps they can take to improve their health and that of their family members, as well as the various measures they can take to help prevent disease.

Another side to the global health program is its scientific research work. With careful study of public health issues, the health professionals and academics involved in the global health program work with colleagues around the world to combat diseases that cause poor health and even premature mortality around the world. This includes research into tropical diseases. The findings of the scientific research can then be incorporated into any relevant health care projects implemented as part of the global health program to help prevent the illnesses, disabilities and early deaths that diseases can cause.