Chandigarh,13May:Health is man’s normal condition, his birthright. It is the result of living in accordance with the natural laws pertaining to the body, mind and environment. These laws relate to fresh air and sunlight, balanced diet, regular exercise, rest, relaxation and sound sleep, cleanliness, internal, external and physical right attitudes of mind, good habits and healthy living. Modern medical science is often accused for its pre-occupation with the study of disease and neglect of the study of health.
It has encouraged people to rely on medicine and tonics for the maintenance of health than teach them the rational way to health. Our hospitals are indeed flooded with the sick, but there are no institutions, which show people how to prevent disease and promote health. Health is often taken for granted and its value is not fully appreciated until it is lost. There are many definitions of health. To the common man, health means a sound mind in a sound body, in a sound family, in a sound environment. The widely accepted definition of health is that given by the World Health Organization (WHO,1948) as:"Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely an absence of disease in a family."
This definition defines three very closely related dimensions of health: physical, mental and social. A fourth dimension has also been suggested, namely "Spiritual Health. The health of an individual fluctuates within a range, varying from optimum well being to extreme sickness, positive health Good Health Better health optimum well being Freedom from Sickness Unrecognized sickness Bad Health Mild sickness extreme sickness Severe sickness Death The lowest point (right most point of the pendulum) in this range is the state of death and the highest point (left most point of the pendulum) corresponds to the WHO’s definition of health. In other words, health is never static, it varies continuously. In this regard, health is defined as a flexible state of body and mind which may be described in the terms of range within which a person may sway from the condition where he is at the peak of enjoyment of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual experiences, with regard to environment, age, sex and other biological characteristics due to the operation of internal & external stimuli and can regain that position without outside aid". This implies health as pendulums oscillating between a range, one end of which represent the maximum and other end the minimum. Therefore, health is state not to be renewed but has to be maintained. Thus, many methods or "Acts of Healing" were devised to keep a good health. The methods or "Acts of Healing" began thousands of years ago. With the passage of time and research and development of medical science, different methods of healing and medicine were developed.
While working on in the community, I felt that there are some drug users and alcohol dependence in the community who were also indulging in sexual activities. Abuse of alcohol/drugs and the consequent problems accompanying it has become one of the major issues of concern in the community. Addiction results in deterioration in physical health, conflicts within the family, problems on the job front, violence & breakdown of moral values, indulgence in unsafe sexual activities etc. Lack of awareness about the magnitude of the problem, coupled with lack of treatment facilities, results in the alarming growth of the problem. Prevention through information short has been the modes-operandi of in all the AIDS/ Health Awareness Campaigns. Objective of the interactions were to sensitize the community on various health issues like nutrition, health hygiene, mental health, care of mother & child, awareness regarding drug-de-addiction and the need of adolescents along with the recent pandemic of HIV/AIDS. The main objective of interactions were to make people aware of the modes through which HIV spreads, how it can be prevented and that there should be no discrimination with People Living With HIV/AIDS in the Society. To achieve the above said objectives volunteers of different NGOs, CBOs, FBOs and various other departments and renowned individuals with social orientation towards up-liftment of the community at the holistic level worked in community. Quantitative data as well as qualitative information gathered during the awareness talks. The interactions have three main strategies.
1. Behavior Change Communication: Selected people oriented to play the role of peer educators will educate the community about the key issues of STDs/ HIV/ AIDS/DRUGS/RCH, counsel to practice safe sex and promote health seeking behavior. Individual stakeholders will play and advocacy role to the direct /core group intervention.
2. Condom Promotion: Promotion of correct and consistent use of condom will be implemented by developing condom outlets at convenient locations like broker’s offices, dhabas, barbershops and petrol pump etc.
3. Qualities STDs and Sexual Health Services: These service providers will be trained on syndromic case management and counselling. Male/female paramedics and a trained Counselor for dealing with sexual health problems of migrants and commercial sex workers will also support the health clinics.
To ensure that the message of prevention reaches the masses the interactions have been directed to spread awareness at different levels, the assets of which are follows:
1. Student Community/ Adolescents: The work among the Student Community/ Adolescents has been carried out at slums, villages, schools, colleges, universities camps levels. During these attacks besides prevention of HIV/AIDS a wide range of Adolescent Problems ranging through emotional disturbances to behavioral patterns and other health related issues were also discussed in the interaction programmes held in different institutions. Around 1/5th of global Population falls in the category of Adolescents, very less percentage of Adolescents sought professionally help for their problems and that too during an emergency or in cases of acute problems.
2. Working People: Working people have been approached from different sectors of industry. Awareness camps have been held at Bus Stand, Labour Chocks, Industrial area and Transport Workshops’ etc.
Active participation and the interaction of these people as led us to the conclusion that at this level of society there is distinctive like of knowledge not only about AIDS but also about the various other Sex related topics.
3. Rural and Slum People: Various camps and other social events have been used to spread the word about HIV/AIDS prevention in the rural and slum community. Every available opportunity like Medical
Campaigns, Skin & S.T.I. / R.T.I. Camps, Blood Donation Camps etc. have been used to spread the word about AIDS Prevention among these people.
The inferences derived from interactions in short are:
a) Students are keen that Value Based Sex/hygiene Education should become a part of curriculum.
b) Such talks/workshops on HIV/AIDS and S.T.I. /R.T.I. should be held more frequently.
c) Even in normal use, healthy life-style education should form part of curriculum.
d) There is urgent need to educate masses regarding Population Control.
e) Practical measures like HIV Testing before Marriage should be considered.
f) Free condom distribution & Demonstration Centres may be established.
g) Right way to use sanitary napkin.
h) In the last two categories there is felt need for more visual and graphic tools of information, as most of the people falling under this category have little or no education at all.
During interactions defining mental health is a subject of on-going debate. It is difficult to pinpoint one precise definition because of cultural differences and varying beliefs. A possible description could be that: Mental health is the ability of an individual, the group and the environment to interact with one another in ways that promote personal well-being, the best possible development and use of mental skills, and the achievement of individual and collective aspirations, in keeping with the ideals of justice, and with a view to achieve and preserve fundamental equality.