Health is one of the primary concerns of all the governments of the world. Must Read Categories of Health Organizations
Governments strive to take steps individually, at the national level and globally to safeguard the health interests of their citizens.
- Health Organizations
- Local Bodies
- National Organizations
- International Organizations
Common Health Problems in India
India is a vast country with highly diverse geographical and climatic conditions.
Food and Water Borne Diseases
- Contaminated food and water cause several diseases.
- Examples: Diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, typhoid and dysentery
- Also Read Aids to Health
Insect and Air Borne Diseases
- Lack of cleanliness leads to breeding of houseflies and mosquitoes which are carriers of certain diseases.
- Example: Malaria
- Tuberculosis, whooping cough, pneumonia and diarrhoea are air borne diseases.
Lack of Medical Facilities
- Lack of medical facilities, especially in rural areas, leads to unavoidable deaths and damage to health.
Professional Hazards
- Child labour in different industries (e.g. carpet industry, fireworks industry and glass bangles manufacturing units) leads to health problems due to excessive physical and mental stress at a young age.
- Also Read Human Evolution
Categories of Health Organizations
Local Bodies
- Municipal Corporations
- Municipalities
- Town Area Committees
Functions of Local Bodies:
- Sanitation
- Vaccination
- Keeping statistical records of diseases in an area
- Supply of safe drinking water
National Bodies
- For every disease, national bodies undertake:
- A regular survey
- Identification of the transmitting agent and its breeding places
- Arrangement of prophylactic immunization
- National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), Delhi, conducts research on infectious diseases. This institute was earlier known as Malaria Institute.
- An extensive national programme Pulse Polio has been launched to eradicate poliomyelitis completely.
International Bodies
Red Cross:
- It is a national as well as international agency.
- Red Cross was formally founded in 1864.
- Its emblem is a red-coloured cross painted on a white background.
- 8 May is celebrated as Red Cross Day.
- Major activities carried out by the Red cross are
- Extending relief and help to victims of flood, fire, famine or earthquakes.
- Procuring and supplying blood to victims of war or other calamities.
- Extending all possible first-aid in any accident.
World Health Organization (WHO)
- WHO was established in 1948.
- It is a specialised agency of the United Nations Organization.
- Its headquarters are located in Geneva.
- Major activities of WHO include
- Collecting and supplying information about the occurrence of diseases of an epidemic nature.
- Laying pharmaceutical standards for important drugs to ensure purity and size of the dose.
- Organizing campaigns for the control of epidemic (widespread) and endemic (local) diseases.
Follow us