HEALTH CARE BEGINS AT HOME

"Health care and safety begin at home" was the popular slogan of the World Health Organization. It is aimed at creating better awareness about health care. A healthy home is essential for better health care.

A thousand million people today live in sub-standard homes all over the world. This figure has remained more or less unchanged during the last fifteen years. About a hundred million people today live in the open. They live in the streets, under bridges, in sewers, and in other open places. Every year millions of people migrate to urban areas. This increases the problem of overcrowding and slums. About 600 million new homes are needed in another three years. In this situation, Health care and safety at home have great importance. It should be our future goal.

The quality of our life depends on our home environment. A healthy home requires careful consideration of existing health hazards. Environmental conditions are also important. Most important among them are proper site selection, quality of physical structure, living space, keeping away domestic animals, prevention of accidents, safe disposal of excreta and waste, clean food and drinking water, good personal hygiene, and proper nutrition. All these requirements are to be met. Then only healthy life is ‘’possible at home.

A healthy home does not have to be expensive. A simple home can be healthier and more suitable. There are many ways to make life healthy and safe at home. The first step is to understand the health problems in the locality. The next stage is to develop self-help and community participation. Political support is also important.

Home Environment

On average two-thirds of a person's life is spent at home. The home will, therefore, influence the quality of one's life. 80% of all diseases are connected to a bad home environment. Poor structure, overcrowding, humidity, lack of sanitation, lack of cleanliness, unsafe drinking water,domestic animals in living space, poor ventilation, and unsafe cooking facilities contribute to health hazards. So all these are important for a healthy and safe home.

The following areas deserve special mention to achieve the goal of a healthy home.

1. Site selection

The selection of a site for the home should be done with care. The place should allow rainwater and wastewater to drain away from the house. The site should be 100 meters away from the refuse dump and stagnation water.

2. Quality of physical structure

The building should be constructed properly. A building should meet health needs. Leaking roofs, cracked walls and earthen floors will create health problems. It will be a heaven for insects and disease vectors.

3. Living space

The home should have sufficient living space for all Occupants.

4. Ventilation

Good ventilation is essential for better health. It keeps the place dry and clears gases, smoke, and dust. Smoke and gases can cause irritation of the respiratory tract and eyes. Children and old people are worst affected.

5. Domestic animals

Animals like pigs, dogs, chickens, goats, etc. should not share the living space. These animals should be kept at a safe distance.

6. Accidents

The most frequent accidents at home are burns and falls involving children. Children should be kept away from unsafe places.

7. Safe disposal of excreta

Disposal of excreta and waste should be done with care. It is a potential source of organisms of various diseases. Every home should have a latrine. Excreta should not contaminate groundwater and surface water, water sources should be away from a latrine.

8. Proper refuse disposal

Refuse and wastewater should be properly disposed of at collection points, pits, etc. if not properly disposed of, it will provide a breeding ground for disease vectors.

9. Clean water

Water is used at home for drinking, washing, preparation of food, bathing, and cleaning. Water should be drawn from safer places. Clean buckets and pots should be used to collect and store water. Contamination of water will generate disease vectors. A majority of diseases are caused by unsafe drinking water.

10. Safe food

Several infections enter the body through food and water. People who handle food should clean their hands. Overall cleanliness should be maintained in the cooking area.

11. Personal Hygiene

Unhygienic habits and lack of cleanliness are the causes of a large variety of diseases. Water, soaps, and brushes are simple items to maintain personal hygiene and cleanliness.

12. Nutrition

Good food is essential for a healthy life. There should be a balanced diet so that the food will have rich nutrition. This will prevent malnutrition. Malnutrition is a major problem today in rural homes.

So, all the above aspects are important to make the home environment healthy and safe.

We should know about it, we should follow it. Also, we should take the message to other areas.