Individuals, families and communities can do a lot to prevent diseases and promote good health. Development of good and efficacious medicines, advanced diagnostic tools and good hospitals cannot reduce disease burden, if the root causes are not addressed. Diseases depend on the social, economic and physical environment where people live and work. Social and employment security can reduce disease burdens. Measures to reduce stress in life and improved safety in the work place should also find place in government policies. People should be encouraged to lead a healthy life style. Preventive measures like practicing Yoga and doing exercises etc should be promoted. Proper efforts should be made to see indoor and outdoor air pollution is reduced. Similarly adequate public investment must be done to make water safe for drinking. For health promotion schools are the ideal places and adequate efforts should be made to create awareness for healthy living. With the help of media, NGOs, schools and colleges and professional organisations and corporates, social responsibility wing should be used to launch a ‘Social Movement for Health’.
(Note: The article was first published in the Lokayat magazine:April, 2015)
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