Global health, food and

well-being
 Disease
 A disease is an illness which affects the normal functioning in the body of an animal or
plant. Diseases can be infectious and non-infectious.
 Many diseases in the world are dangerous for humans.
 Many of them can be treated, especially where there is access to good healthcare.
 There are some very simple ways to avoid picking up infectious diseases, especially if you
have access to clean water.
 Non-infectious diseases are found in every country on planet Earth and are usually caused
by genes, diet and lifestyle choices.
Infectious diseases

 Infectious diseases spread from one person to another.

 These diseases are carried by germs such as bacteria and viruses.

 They breed due to poor sanitization such as poor personal hygiene, lack of
cleanliness, open sewage, open and piled-up garbage.

 Germs spread though air, water and insects.

 Examples of communicable diseases – typhoid, pneumonia, dengue

 Precautions and safety steps
 In order to prevent such diseases, we have to follow safety steps:
 Our environment and household should always be kept clean.

 Garbage should be disposed properly and not piled up. Different dustbins can be used to
dispose plastic, raw leftovers, paper separately.
 Water should not be allowed to fill in containers and stagnate. Insecticides should be sprayed
to control the breeding of mosquitoes.
 Cover food items. Boil drinking water.

 Do not eat food exposed to germs and polluted air.

 Wash and peel fruits and vegetables before eating.
 Toilets should be kept clean.

 Use insect proof nets on doors and windows to prevent mosquitoes or flies from entering into
house.
 Immunization and vaccination
 Immunization is when a person becomes resistant (immune) to certain diseases.
 This resistance sometimes develop naturally. Once we contract measles or chicken pox, we
naturally become immune to it and we will not contract it again.
 Vaccination is one way we get artificial immunization.
 Vaccination injections contain a weakened form of the germ. Once injected, the body will
fight against it and remember to fight for it again in the future.
 Vaccination injections are given to prevent diseases such as mumps, cholera, typhoid and
tetanus.
 New-born babies are routinely protected against Tuberculosis, diphtheria, whooping cough
and polio.
 Non-infectious diseases
 Diseases that do not spread from one person to another person are non-
communicable diseases.
 Examples – diabetes, heart problems, arthritis. These examples are caused due
to malfunctioning of some body parts.
 Examples – night blindness, beriberi, kwashiorkor. These examples are caused
due to lack of proper nutrition. They are called deficiency diseases.
Safety steps
 Do not have too much fried foods or sugary food. Have them only occasionally
yet in small quantities. Avoid junk food.
 Drink plenty of fluids – mainly water and fruit juice.
 Exercise daily and participate actively in physical work.
 Have a balanced diet.