7 Human Population and Environment part 4
Civil rights are based on positive law: they are derived from laws and judicial decisions.
Civil or legal rights are those granted by a government.
The entitlements are defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by
the United Nation’s General Assembly on Dec. 10, 1948, as “a common standard of
achievement for all people and nations”. It urged the right to political, economic, social and
cultural self-determination the right to peace, the right to live in a healthful and balanced
environment and the right to share in the Earth’s resources.
Here, we are dealing with that part of Human natural rights which encompasses
protection of environmental issues as these ultimately govern human health and survival:
(i) The right to life.
(ii) The right to an adequate standard of living and social security.
(iii) The right to education.
(iv) For children, the right to freedom from exploitation.
(v) The right of access to health-care services, with States aiming to reduce infant and
child mortality and abolish traditional practices prejudicial to health.
(vi) The right of access to clean air to breathe.
(vii) The right of access to drink-clear and clean water.
(viii) The right to live in noise pollution free environment.
(ix) The right of access to gifts of nature/ resources.
(x) The right to live in a disease free environment.
VALUE EDUCATION
Aims of Health Education
The aims for community health education are as follows:
(i) Healthy practices in day-to-day living should be inculcated among the children
from a very early age. This is how they will be able to understand the importance
of health, hygiene and sanitation. .
(ii) The knowledge about our body and various organs of our body and their functions
helps a person to understand the disease, its causes and common ailments.
Such factors which affect the health standards like smoking, eating tobacco, drug
addiction intake of liquor etc., can be checked by resorting to some law and
amendments to Improve the health standards. .
(iii) In order to create a clean environment in a city or town, people should be encouraged
and awareness be created. Clean and safe drinking water system, good sanitary
lavatories be provided at crowded places.
(iv) Proper arrangements for providing better health services to the people should be
ensured and they should be introduced to various governmental health programmes
like mother and child welfare, child welfare services, family planning, etc.
(v) Training programmes for officers, health workers, private doctors, nurses, midwives,
etc. should be undertaken from time to time.
(vi) Health education can be imparted in an effective manner by personal contact
programmes.
(vii) Personal hygiene, regular exercise and rest, importance of nutritive foods, ventilation
and its effect on health, clean sanitary environment, causes of pollution and its
prevention are some of the general topics for health education.
(viii) Practical knowledge should be provided about communicable diseases, serious health
problems and first aid and emergency services.
Principles of Health Education
Every individual learns and understand some thing from his culture and social
background. Based on school health programme adult-education programme is planned
accordingly. Before understanding various teaching methods one should know the principles
behind learning. These principles are as follows:.
(i) Every individual has learning capacity throughout his life.
(ii) Learning capacity is not affected by advancing age of an individual, but by lack of
interest and desire for learning.
(iii) For learning the same material, all individuals will not learn the same way. This
variation is due to the background experiences and individual’s circumstances and
exposure.
(iv) Individuals own effort will play a significant role in making a change in habits and
concepts. Learning is not the outcome of one individual saying something to other
individual, but it is learnt through his own efforts and willingness.
(v) An individual learns for love, satisfaction. and basic human needs of survival, food
and social approval. .
(vi) People learn faster when they are acquainted with the objectives and goals. Means
of achieving those goals and use the resources properly should be clear.
(vii) An individual take an appropriate time to learn something new, so one should be
given enough time to absorb what he has learnt.
Purification of water at domestic level
Purification of water at domestic level can be achieved by the following methods:
1. Distillation
2. Boiling
3. Filtration
4. Chemical method of sterilization
5. Ultra-violet sterilization.
(i) Distillation: In the process of distillation water is heated and evaporation takes
place, whereby water changes back to water when cooled. This process is called
condensation. The condensed water is the purest form of water, free from microbes
and impurities.
(ii) Boiling: It is boiled for ten minutes to kill the microbes present in it and also
removes the temporary hardness of water.
(iii) Filtration: Different varieties of filters are used to purify the water at domestic
level.
Chemical methods for water sterilization
(i) Aluminium sulphate: It is largely used to purify muddy water.
(ii) Chlorine: Chlorine gas or tablet is added to destroy disease-producing germs. It
is a very cheap and convenient method.
(iii) Potassium permanganate: It oxidises the organic matter and destroys 98% of
the microorganisms in four to six hours.
(iv) Purification by the use of ultra-violet rays: Ultra-Violet rays have the power
of destroying microorganisms from the water without any chemical change. They
exert their action only when the water is fairly clear and bright.
VENTILATION
Ideal ventilation is possible only when there is sufficient pure air. Ventilation is defined
as the “Science of maintaining atmospheric conditions which are comfortable and suitable
to the human body.” Ventilation incorporates comfortable and appropriate balance of gases,
also optimum temperature adequate humidity, movement or flow of air and free from disease
producing microorganisms.
(a) Internal Ventilation
Proper ventilation of the rooms is known as ‘internal ventilation. Lack of efficient and
adequate ventilation leads to many discomforts and diseases. When the carbon-dioxide
concentration exceeds 0.04% and reaches 0.06% then the air in the room gets suffocating.
Every person needs 3000 cu feet of air every hour and if the impurities in the air exceed
0.02%, the air is regarded as impure and unhealthy.
(b) External Ventilation
Fresh air flows into the house from the surroundings and open space. This type of
ventilation is known as external ventilation. This is ensured by making the streets wide and
straight, providing open space, parks and gardens.
Artificial Ventilation
Artificial ventilation is easily controlled and, installed. The means of artificial ventilation
are coolers, air conditioner, which are more frequently, used equipments. Humidifiers and
dehumidifiers are used where there is problem of humidity. Exhaust fans also play an
important role in bringing in fresh air and flushing out polluted and impure air.
Inadequate Ventilation and Health
Inadequate ventilation has following effect on the occupants of the room:
(i) Lack of oxygen leads to early fatigue and reduces alertness.
(ii) Results in sweating, heat exhaustion and faintness.
(iii) Foul odours from skin, mouth, stomach and clothes produces uneasiness, sickness
(iv) Unventilated environment leads to digestive disorder loss of appetite, anemia,
metabolic disturbances, etc.
(v) Cold, cough, infectious diseases, influenza, pneumonia etc. are some of the problems
of inadequate ventilation.
(vi) Gases from exhaust vehicles and industries damage the eyes and trachea.
The Aids Pandemic
The AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) virus has caused a worldwide
epidemic, which can be called a pandemic because it continues to spread throughout the
world. Millions of people have been infected. The virus was first identified as the cause of
AIDS in the late 1970s. Since then, individuals with the infection have been reported in
nearly every country in the world. Estimated mortality rates are about 60 percent, according
to the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease is spread through direct
physical contact, between individuals in which body fluids containing the, virus enter the
bloodstream. Sharing of contaminated needles among intravenous drug users and sexual
contact are the most-likely methods of passage. In the United States, the disease was once
considered a problem only for the homosexual community and those who use intravenous
drugs. This perception is rapidly changing. Many of the new cases of AIDS are being found
in women infected by male sex partners and in the children of infected women. In parts of
Africa, the disease has always been primarily a heterosexual disease.
In the poor countries of central Africa, many believe that permissive sexual behaviour
and prostitution have created conditions for a rapid spread of the disease. In addition, there
is little opportunity for medical care. Many people have already died from the disease.
Others who are currently infected will die in the near future. Some villages are already
beginning to notice a change in the structure of their populations. With the death, of young
infected’ adults, villages are composed primarily of older people and children. The disease
is spreading at an alarming rate, and, it has no cure as yet and no vaccine so far. The
disease is almost fatal. People in the age group 20-39 are more susceptible to getting AIDS.
Causative germ of AIDS is a virus named HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). It
has been detected in body fluids like blood, semen, saliva, tears and urine. It attacks the
immune system (i.e. the’ cells that fight against infections) and the patient suffers seriously
from even minor infections of other diseases. Even cancers appear when the immune system
fails.
Civil or legal rights are those granted by a government.
The entitlements are defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by
the United Nation’s General Assembly on Dec. 10, 1948, as “a common standard of
achievement for all people and nations”. It urged the right to political, economic, social and
cultural self-determination the right to peace, the right to live in a healthful and balanced
environment and the right to share in the Earth’s resources.
Here, we are dealing with that part of Human natural rights which encompasses
protection of environmental issues as these ultimately govern human health and survival:
(i) The right to life.
(ii) The right to an adequate standard of living and social security.
(iii) The right to education.
(iv) For children, the right to freedom from exploitation.
(v) The right of access to health-care services, with States aiming to reduce infant and
child mortality and abolish traditional practices prejudicial to health.
(vi) The right of access to clean air to breathe.
(vii) The right of access to drink-clear and clean water.
(viii) The right to live in noise pollution free environment.
(ix) The right of access to gifts of nature/ resources.
(x) The right to live in a disease free environment.
VALUE EDUCATION
Aims of Health Education
The aims for community health education are as follows:
(i) Healthy practices in day-to-day living should be inculcated among the children
from a very early age. This is how they will be able to understand the importance
of health, hygiene and sanitation. .
(ii) The knowledge about our body and various organs of our body and their functions
helps a person to understand the disease, its causes and common ailments.
Such factors which affect the health standards like smoking, eating tobacco, drug
addiction intake of liquor etc., can be checked by resorting to some law and
amendments to Improve the health standards. .
(iii) In order to create a clean environment in a city or town, people should be encouraged
and awareness be created. Clean and safe drinking water system, good sanitary
lavatories be provided at crowded places.
(iv) Proper arrangements for providing better health services to the people should be
ensured and they should be introduced to various governmental health programmes
like mother and child welfare, child welfare services, family planning, etc.
(v) Training programmes for officers, health workers, private doctors, nurses, midwives,
etc. should be undertaken from time to time.
(vi) Health education can be imparted in an effective manner by personal contact
programmes.
(vii) Personal hygiene, regular exercise and rest, importance of nutritive foods, ventilation
and its effect on health, clean sanitary environment, causes of pollution and its
prevention are some of the general topics for health education.
(viii) Practical knowledge should be provided about communicable diseases, serious health
problems and first aid and emergency services.
Principles of Health Education
Every individual learns and understand some thing from his culture and social
background. Based on school health programme adult-education programme is planned
accordingly. Before understanding various teaching methods one should know the principles
behind learning. These principles are as follows:.
(i) Every individual has learning capacity throughout his life.
(ii) Learning capacity is not affected by advancing age of an individual, but by lack of
interest and desire for learning.
(iii) For learning the same material, all individuals will not learn the same way. This
variation is due to the background experiences and individual’s circumstances and
exposure.
(iv) Individuals own effort will play a significant role in making a change in habits and
concepts. Learning is not the outcome of one individual saying something to other
individual, but it is learnt through his own efforts and willingness.
(v) An individual learns for love, satisfaction. and basic human needs of survival, food
and social approval. .
(vi) People learn faster when they are acquainted with the objectives and goals. Means
of achieving those goals and use the resources properly should be clear.
(vii) An individual take an appropriate time to learn something new, so one should be
given enough time to absorb what he has learnt.
Purification of water at domestic level
Purification of water at domestic level can be achieved by the following methods:
1. Distillation
2. Boiling
3. Filtration
4. Chemical method of sterilization
5. Ultra-violet sterilization.
(i) Distillation: In the process of distillation water is heated and evaporation takes
place, whereby water changes back to water when cooled. This process is called
condensation. The condensed water is the purest form of water, free from microbes
and impurities.
(ii) Boiling: It is boiled for ten minutes to kill the microbes present in it and also
removes the temporary hardness of water.
(iii) Filtration: Different varieties of filters are used to purify the water at domestic
level.
Chemical methods for water sterilization
(i) Aluminium sulphate: It is largely used to purify muddy water.
(ii) Chlorine: Chlorine gas or tablet is added to destroy disease-producing germs. It
is a very cheap and convenient method.
(iii) Potassium permanganate: It oxidises the organic matter and destroys 98% of
the microorganisms in four to six hours.
(iv) Purification by the use of ultra-violet rays: Ultra-Violet rays have the power
of destroying microorganisms from the water without any chemical change. They
exert their action only when the water is fairly clear and bright.
VENTILATION
Ideal ventilation is possible only when there is sufficient pure air. Ventilation is defined
as the “Science of maintaining atmospheric conditions which are comfortable and suitable
to the human body.” Ventilation incorporates comfortable and appropriate balance of gases,
also optimum temperature adequate humidity, movement or flow of air and free from disease
producing microorganisms.
(a) Internal Ventilation
Proper ventilation of the rooms is known as ‘internal ventilation. Lack of efficient and
adequate ventilation leads to many discomforts and diseases. When the carbon-dioxide
concentration exceeds 0.04% and reaches 0.06% then the air in the room gets suffocating.
Every person needs 3000 cu feet of air every hour and if the impurities in the air exceed
0.02%, the air is regarded as impure and unhealthy.
(b) External Ventilation
Fresh air flows into the house from the surroundings and open space. This type of
ventilation is known as external ventilation. This is ensured by making the streets wide and
straight, providing open space, parks and gardens.
Artificial Ventilation
Artificial ventilation is easily controlled and, installed. The means of artificial ventilation
are coolers, air conditioner, which are more frequently, used equipments. Humidifiers and
dehumidifiers are used where there is problem of humidity. Exhaust fans also play an
important role in bringing in fresh air and flushing out polluted and impure air.
Inadequate Ventilation and Health
Inadequate ventilation has following effect on the occupants of the room:
(i) Lack of oxygen leads to early fatigue and reduces alertness.
(ii) Results in sweating, heat exhaustion and faintness.
(iii) Foul odours from skin, mouth, stomach and clothes produces uneasiness, sickness
(iv) Unventilated environment leads to digestive disorder loss of appetite, anemia,
metabolic disturbances, etc.
(v) Cold, cough, infectious diseases, influenza, pneumonia etc. are some of the problems
of inadequate ventilation.
(vi) Gases from exhaust vehicles and industries damage the eyes and trachea.
The Aids Pandemic
The AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) virus has caused a worldwide
epidemic, which can be called a pandemic because it continues to spread throughout the
world. Millions of people have been infected. The virus was first identified as the cause of
AIDS in the late 1970s. Since then, individuals with the infection have been reported in
nearly every country in the world. Estimated mortality rates are about 60 percent, according
to the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease is spread through direct
physical contact, between individuals in which body fluids containing the, virus enter the
bloodstream. Sharing of contaminated needles among intravenous drug users and sexual
contact are the most-likely methods of passage. In the United States, the disease was once
considered a problem only for the homosexual community and those who use intravenous
drugs. This perception is rapidly changing. Many of the new cases of AIDS are being found
in women infected by male sex partners and in the children of infected women. In parts of
Africa, the disease has always been primarily a heterosexual disease.
In the poor countries of central Africa, many believe that permissive sexual behaviour
and prostitution have created conditions for a rapid spread of the disease. In addition, there
is little opportunity for medical care. Many people have already died from the disease.
Others who are currently infected will die in the near future. Some villages are already
beginning to notice a change in the structure of their populations. With the death, of young
infected’ adults, villages are composed primarily of older people and children. The disease
is spreading at an alarming rate, and, it has no cure as yet and no vaccine so far. The
disease is almost fatal. People in the age group 20-39 are more susceptible to getting AIDS.
Causative germ of AIDS is a virus named HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). It
has been detected in body fluids like blood, semen, saliva, tears and urine. It attacks the
immune system (i.e. the’ cells that fight against infections) and the patient suffers seriously
from even minor infections of other diseases. Even cancers appear when the immune system
fails.