The World Health Organisation (WHO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN) that is concerned with international public health.
In 1948, the WHO held the First World Health Assembly, whichdecided to celebrate April 7, with effect from 1950, as the World Health Day. It is an opportunity to draw worldwide attention to a subject of major importance to global health each year.
The day is celebrated to mark the anniversary of the WHO founded in 1948. Each year a theme is selected for the day that highlights a priority area of public health concern in the world. The day is acknowledged by various Governments and non-Governmental organisations with interests in public health issues.
Environmental livingconditions, including housing, are among the primary determinants of an individual's health. Poor housing conditions are associated with a wide range of health conditions; Addressing housing issues offers public health practitioners an opportunity to address an important social determinant of health. Public health has long been involved in housing issues. Today, public health departments employ multiple strategies to improve housing, such as developing and enforcing housing guidelines and codes, implementing "healthy homes" programmers to improve indoor environmental quality, assessing housing conditions, and advocating for healthy and affordable housing.
The entire world is facing a housing crisis. In cities, almost 1 billion people live in substandard housing without clean water or adequate sanitation. More than 14 million refugees and internally displaced people live in tents or other temporary shelters. Millions of homeless men, women, and children live in the streets
The relationship between poor housing and ill health is a complicated one which involves many different factors. Evidence suggests that living in poor housing can lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular and respiratory disease as well as to anxiety and depression. Examples of key housing-related health risks include respiratory and cardiovascular diseases from indoor air pollution; illness and deaths from temperature extremes; communicable diseases because of poor living conditions and risks of home injuries. The WHO estimates that nearly 2 million people in developing countries die from indoor air pollution. Inadequate ventilation is also associated with a higher risk of airborne infectious disease transmission, including tuberculosis as well as the accumulation of indoor pollutants and dampness, which are factors in the development of allergies and asthma. Poor housing quality and design also can exacerbate the health impacts from exposure to temperature extremes, which are occurring more frequently due to climate change.
Today, public health departments can employ multiple strategies to improve housing such as developing and enforcing housing guidelines and codes, implementing "healthy homes" programmes to improve indoor environmental quality, assessing housing conditions, and advocating for healthy, affordable housing. Now, it is the time for public to create healthier homes by confronting substandard housing.
A majority of Indians have per capita space equivalent to or less than a 10 feet x 10 feet room for their living, sleeping, cooking, washing and toilet needs. The average is 103 sqft per person in rural areas and 117 sqft per person in urban areas. Despite the recent economic growth, there is still vast poverty, unemployment and, therefore, poor housing conditions for a huge section of the population.
Important parameters in indoor environments include the thermal climate, noise and light, and exposure to a large number of pollutants. While these parameters are also affected by human-related activities and outdoor sources, human exposure is modified by housing such as building
materials, number and size of rooms and windows, ventilation and energy technology. The use of building materials such as asbestos or lead-based paint can increase exposure to these toxic substances in different housing.
The shortage of housing has been estimated by India's Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation by adding the number of families residing in unacceptable (old and dilapidated) houses, families residing in unacceptable physical and social conditions and families without homes. The total housing shortage in urban India, as on March 2012, has been estimated at 18.78 million. So, that there is a large housing shortage. State-wise data show a mixed picture: both developed and less developed States have families living in poor housing conditions. Uttar Pradesh has a shortage of over 3 million homes followed byMaharashtra (1.97 million), West Bengal (1.33 million), Andhra Pradesh (1.27 million) and Rajasthan (1.15 million). Odisha has a housing shortage of 0.41 million.
Quality land-use planning and urban design protect human health and quality of life and preserve essential natural resources like open space, forests and clean drinking water supplies. In contrast, a healthy community is not just one with excellent medical care: it is one with an environment that encourages physical activity and social contact and provides healthy air and landscapes.
Development and enforcement of most housing codes are the responsibility of housing and construction departments. However, these codes consider only a subset of the conditions that affect housing quality. For the most part, they do not address the
maintenance or remediation of substandard conditions in existing buildings. Refinement of housing codes to reflect current knowledge of healthful housing is urgently needed. Enhanced national codes or guidelines that address factors affecting health such as ventilation, lighting and other factors that are applicable to both new and existing housing stock would be a valuable asset for local public health agencies seeking to upgrade local housing codes.
There are still few researchers documenting the damage to health of poor housing and neighbourhood design. The health benefits of healthy home interventions still needs further definition and evaluation.
More integrated community development efforts are necessary to respond to the needs of those living in distressed communities and to increase access to stable, quality and affordable housing.
(Dr Mayarani Praharaj works at the Department of Architecture, College of Engineering and Technology, Bhubaneswar)