Posted: 07/04/2007
This year's World Health Day is focussing on global health security. The theme for World Health Day 2007 is: Invest in health, build a safer future for all.
Many of the issues that are highlighted are relevant to Asha's work and to slum dwellers on certain levels. Here are some of the key messages for this year:
Slum dwellers are vulnerable to disease and many other health problems due to a combination of factors. Lack of education, poverty and lack of access to healthcare services all contribute to making them more prone to illness and less likely to get help when they do fall ill.
The slum environment worsens problems that are already present. Unsanitary conditions and cramped living quarters allow all kinds of diseases to spread rapidly, and provide perfect breeding environments for organisms that transmit disease such as mosquitoes and for parasites such as worms.
Asha's strategies recognise these factors that make slum residents at risk. The multi-pronged approach to tackling these issues is highly effective, and health statistics in Asha slums are better than those in India as a whole.
The combination of community education, trained health volunteers who are also living in the slums, slum-based health centres and subsidised treatment at Asha's polyclinic create healthy communities who are aware of ways to prevent illness, and of what to do if they need any healthcare.
Threats to health are not static, however, and Asha is always vigilant of the health status within the city, India and even worldwide. Many of the current world health issues are a real problem in India and Asha staff and volunteers within slums are constantly raising the awareness of these diseases. One example is the massive threat posed by TB within India; all Asha slums have systems in place to ensure that TB sufferers are identified and treated as soon as possible.
Parents are made aware of the importance of vaccinating their children, and personalized health cards for all children under the age of 5 make it easy for Asha staff, Community Health Volunteers or other volunteers to track the vaccination status of any child. There are no longer any children dying from preventable diseases in Asha slums.
Slum communities who are collaborating with Asha now have the knowledge and the networks needed to join together and tackle any health threat that occurs. During a recent outbreak of bird flu, Mahila Mandals (women's groups) in various slums distributed pamphlets and put up posters to warn slum residents of the dangers. They visited people within the slum who owned chicken shops and put pressure on them to close down the shops and get rid of the chickens. The women then visited the Chief Medical Officer to secure his support. Thanks to the efforts of the women, the CMO recognized the threat and made sure that all chicken shops in the area were closed down.
I used to drink all the time - all my money went on alcohol, and I was such a burden to my mother and 11 sisters. Asha put me in touch with Alcoholics Anonymous, and they have supported me so much. Now, I've taken a loan and run a small balloon factory - I'm earning money and happy for the first time in years.
Rangilal, Mayapuri
