Introduction

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), (1947), health is defined as –

“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely an absence of disease or infirmity. Health is a state of body when all the organs and systems are functionally properly and a perfect balance is maintained between the environment and the body.”

Health has three different ways:

• Physical health involves perfect functioning of all the organs and systems of body.
• Μental health means a state of harmony and balance between the individual and the surrounding. Individual is free from anxiety and tension. It is right saying that a “a healthy mind lies in a healthy body”.
• Social health means a man having good job, a good house, a happy family, good neighbours and understanding friends.

Now, spiritual, emotional and political health are also added as new dimensions of health.

CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD HEALTH

The important characteristics of a person having good health are:

• Free from sickness and diseases.
• Free from unnecessary anxiety.
• Free from social and psychological tensions.
• Self-confidence.
• Feeling of joy in living
• ∙ Ability to work efficiently and at his best.

Significance of Health:

Good health is "Healthy body with a healthy mind and healthy attitude". Good health increases our efficiency for doing work. The increased efficiency of a man due to good health contributes to his own progress, the progress of community and the progress of nation as a whole. Good health also makes a man happy and cheerful. It allows a person to have the initiative for betterment. It makes living a joyful experience. It keeps a person not only happy but also provides cheerfulness to the people. Good health is a condition for our purposeful existence in this world.

Factors Affecting Health:

The factors affecting health may be intrinsic (inside the body) or Extrinsic (outside the body):

(i) Inside the body or Intrinsic factors: These are factors related to malfunctioning of any organ or part, hormone or immune system of the body. The diseases caused due to hormonal disturbance or immune system are called metabolic diseases.These diseases can be prevented and cured by taking medical treatment.

(ii) Outside the body or Extrinsic factors: These factors include disease causing organisms, deficiency of proper diet and environmental pollutants. These diseases can be prevented and cured by taking proper food and keeping the clean surroundings.

Community health

It is defined as including “All the personal health along with the environmental services in a human community.”

Some of the services which need to be developed and provided at the community level are described below:

• Establishment of health care services like primary health centres, district hospitals, community health centres, medical college hospitals, All India Institutes, Regional Hospitals, specialized hospitals and other Apex Institutions.
• Prevention and control of environmental pollution (by Central and State Pollution Control Boards).
• Provision of safe drinking water.
• Proper disposal of sewage and garbage.
• Prevention of breeding sites of harmful insects
• Providing community education on nutrition and health.
• Providing health education to school children.
• Providing medical care to school children.
• Prevention and control of diseases (like tetanus, measles, hepatitis, tuberculosis, diphtheria, whooping cough) through vaccination, medical services and medicines.
• Providing family welfare education and services, and maternal and child health services.

Difference between Personal Health and Community Health: