Thirty two years have gone by from the moment that WHO made a new declaration in Ama-Alta regarding the concept of health “complete estate of physical, mental and social well-being and not only the lack of affections or diseases”. Although the conception of health as a total estate of well-being, has found during this period of years new challenges to cope with. It is the case of diseases and problems related with environment.
Presentation of the guide “Salud infantil y medio ambiente. Una relación de por vida”. May 3rd at CosmoCaixa Barcelona.
On 2005, WHO stated on an unequivocal way that environment is the direct cause for more than three million children’s death each year. In fact, the environmental factors have an influence on 82 among 102 categories of diseases and traumatisms enumerated in WHO report on health in the world. So the situation is very clear. Although it is true that when we speak about diseases and affections linked with environment, we are not speaking about the same kind of pathologies in places such as Butembo, in Republic of Congo, where Fundacio Roger Torné has a shelter house, or in Barcelona, where Casa del Aire is located, to give an example. In Butembo, environmental problems are linked with the lack of basic resources, as having access to drinking water, resources channeling or the kind of combustible used inside the houses. Nevertheless, in Barcelona, we must cope to an increasing situation of defenselessness regarding children’s health: we must bear in mind the objective information that supposes the fact that during the last 20 years the number of deaths due to respiratory problems has become three times as much and that the number of children suffering from asthma covers nowadays 10% of children population. Pollution, a Public Administration responsibility is, no doubt, one of the main causes.
Human being interacts with environment even before being born, and this relationship allows him advance and develop as individual and as social being but it also makes him observe, change habits and behaviors that allow him get adapted to an habitat that he has modified himself. And it is in this area where there is place for the families’ preventive action in relationship with their children health. I have heard more than once that in Chinese traditional medicine, the physician is paid while the patient is sane, not when he gets ill. Frankly, I did not go to China to check it but I think that I find it suggestive as idea. The concept of health, considering the concept of health as something inherent to human nature.
Consultancy on line “For Fathers and Mothers” of Roger Torné Foundation (in spanish)
In Fundació Roger Torné, we are absolutely convinced of this right to health and to the real possibility of stressing on it from social and family areas and not only from the sanitary one. But we are also aware of the fact that, in order to make this action possible, it is necessary that parents have a serious and rigorous information, using guidelines easy to be carried out, if a person is willing to do it, of course. This is why last May 2010 the consultancy on line “For Fathers and Mothers” was created by us so that families could consult for free their concerns regarding their children’s respiratory health. And on 2011 May 3rd we will present the Children’s health and Environment Guide (“Salud infantil y medio ambiente. Una relación de por vida”) for parents, which is based on the scientific evidences; it gathers an advisements Decalogue so that families find an area where their children’s health become a matter belonging to them, as parents, too. From here we invite them to join us and to know the guide authors opinion.
But last Thursday, being the International Health’s Day, we could not forget that health is an inalienable right for citizens and that Public Administrations should protect us from all the threats that alter environment, but we also should take action to exercise this right since we are an active part, ourselves.
Tags: child health, childhood, diffusion, environmental, health, prevention, Respiratory diseases, way of life, who
Tags: child health, childhood, diffusion, environmental, health, prevention, Respiratory diseases, way of life, who
