Health in Slums

Slum conditions pose many dangers to the inhabitants' health. Lack of education means that people are unaware of the health problems caused by unsanitary conditions, and do not know how to prevent the spread of disease. Poverty means that food is often scarce or lacking in nutrients, and a high proportion of children are malnourished. Very few children receive vaccinations and so diseases such as polio and cholera that have been almost eradicated elsewhere can still cause death.

Lack of trustworthy medical advice

When a health problem becomes apparent, people are often reluctant to seek medical help due to the costs involved. They can be mislead by the advice offered by local "quacks" - people who pose as doctors but have no medical training. Their often incorrect diagnoses and unsuitable medication are often more dangerous than the patients' illnesses themselves.

Effects of environmental issues

The physical environment also causes problems. There is a serious shortage of basic amenities that most people take for granted, such as refuse collection, and as a result surrounding areas become piled high with rotting rubbish. Drains are not covered or kept clear, and so stagnant water collects, forming a breeding ground for mosquitoes and increasing the danger of malaria and dengue fever. Lack of sufficient or sanitary toilet facilities heighten the risk of diseases such as typhoid or cholera that are spread through contaminated food and water. The cramped conditions of the slums, number of people per home and close proximity to others enables disease to spread rapidly, whether by air, water, food or from person to person.

How Asha slums are different

When Asha was founded its initial aim was to provide medical assistance to disadvantaged people living in Delhi's slums, and healthcare remains crucial to the organisation's work. A sophisticated 3-tiered approach to healthcare has been developed, resulting in greatly improved health for the slum dwellers and a significant growth in their awareness of healthcare issues.

Thank you Asha

I was suffering from Tuberculosis and my son couldn't cope with looking after me so he moved out. The TB got worse and I relapsed. An Asha community health volunteer noticed my illness, made sure I took my medicine and gave me small rations of nutritious food. If Asha was not here I would have died by now. 

Arshafilal 

Recovering TB patient