Health: A necessity for sustainable development

Abstract

Health and sustainable development are mutually dependent: neither is possible without the other. Health is determined by many factors: hereditary; life-style; the level of education; work; the social community; the effects of the natural environment. The greatest health-related threat to sustainable development comes from infections (diarrhoea, respiratory infections, AIDS, tuberculosis and childhood infections and malaria) and psychiatric disorders, particularly depression, but including schizophrenia (madness). Infection and psychiatric disorders are given too little importance in the Johannesburg declaration. Development is not without problems that affect health: increased population stressing the food supplies; changing disease patterns; the marginalisation of vulnerable groups who tend to have poorer health, nutrition, education, access to help or little control of their circumstances; corruption; unjust trade and other economic decisions; inappropriate education and international aid; bias towards the provision of health services while ignoring the factors affecting health; unthinking introduction of western beliefs and practices; traffic fumes and accidents; and industrial and domestic pollution. Many of these problems are tackled in the declaration in some measure, but the declaration is unbalanced in its approach, focussing on minor issues to the detriment of important health matters. However, the processes to change in both health and development are the same and operate across society. Achieving sustainable development and improving health at the same time is attainable, but may take a major investment by the developing countries. The Western nations cannot be relied upon to contribute wisely and unselfishly to health and development in the rest of the world. © 2005 Springer.