GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

CAMBRIDGE IGCSE P6

DISEASE AND HEALTH

DISEASE AND HEALTH
• Disease is a particular abnormal condition, a disorder of a structure or
function, that affects part or all of an organism. The study of disease
is called pathology which includes the causal study of ethiology.
• Health is the level of functional and metabolic efficiency of a living
organism. In humans it is the ability of individuals or communities to
adapt and self-manage when facing physical, mental or social
changes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health
QUESTIONS FOR YOUR
RESEARCH PROJECT
GLOBAL/INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES
• How do infant mortality rates and expected life spans compare in
different countries?
• What are the reasons for this?
• What are the major health problems facing the world today?
• Is access to good health care a right?
LOCAL/NATIONAL PERSPECTIVES
• How good are my local health care and sports facilities?
• Are they equally available to everyone?
• Which people in my locality have the greatest health care needs?
• How well does my community cater for people with disabilities?
FAMILY/PERSONAL PERSPECTIVES
• What can I do to keep myself healthy?
• Do I have a responsibility to keep myself healthy, and if so, why?
• Where should I go if I have a health worry or need advice about
staying healthy?
WEBSITES 1
Visit archives.
Write to doctor/ministry of health/health campaigners/health charity.
www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/education/int/geog/health/development/social/life_expe
ctancy/index.shtml
World life expectancy information.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4850986.stm Example of UK variations in infant
mortality.
www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/education/int/geog/health/health/index.shtml A
resource with an interactive map to look at cholera, cancer, malaria and coronary
heart disease.
www.who.int/topics/obesity/en/ World Health Organization (WHO) site on obesity.
www.who.int/features/2005/chronic_diseases/en/ Malri’s story: facing obesity
(Kenya). Chronic disease site from the WHO.
www.who.int/topics/child_health/en/index.html WHO Child health site
WEBSITES 2
www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/en/index.html WHO diet and physical activity campaign
www.prb.org/Publications/Datasheets/2007/2007WorldPopulationDataSheet.aspx
Population Research Bureau statistics including report on malnutrition (2007).
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7018057.stm Article about a young American boy
who died through lack of access to health care.
www.census.gov/ipc/www/idb/ A site for producing country scale population pyramids for
present and future.
www.census.gov/aboutus/stat_int.html A gateway into all national statistics sites.
www.prb.org/Articles/2007/OctDCPBlurb.aspx A brief site with links to the debate on
elderly populations.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4756650.stm A BBC report on encouraging a healthy lifestyle.
www.independent.co.uk/news/europe/stark-warning-on-childhood-obesity-problem-
468833.html The Independent newspaper, UK. Article on adopting a healthy lifestyle.
WEBSITES 3
www.netdoctor.co.uk/teenagehealth/index.shtml A general site with information about teenage
health.
www.youthhealthtalk.org/ Real-life case studies of teenage health issues. Local helplines e.g. school
nurse, health clinics, Samaritans.
www.dpi.org/ Disabled Peoples’ International – an organisation that promotes rights of disabled
people worldwide.
www.unicef.org UNICEF main website.
www.childinfo.org A UNICEF site focused on child welfare.
www.wethepeoples.org.uk A DVD of nine films which support the UN Millennium Development
Goals.
www.actionaid.org International charity website with national site links.
www.sightsavers.org International charity aimed at supporting those with sight difficulties.
www.avert.org/aids.htm Global information about Aids.
www.rafi.ki/gemin-iplus/ Rafiki project: MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières) is an international medical
humanitarian organisation. It delivers emergency medical aid to people affected by armed conflict,
epidemics, natural disasters or exclusion from health care.
WEBSITES 4
www.netdoctor.co.uk/teenagehealth/index.shtml A general site with information about teenage
health.
www.youthhealthtalk.org/ Real-life case studies of teenage health issues. Local helplines e.g. school
nurse, health clinics, Samaritans.
www.dpi.org/ Disabled Peoples’ International – an organisation that promotes rights of disabled
people worldwide.
www.unicef.org UNICEF main website.
www.childinfo.org A UNICEF site focused on child welfare.
www.wethepeoples.org.uk A DVD of nine films which support the UN Millennium Development
Goals.
www.actionaid.org International charity website with national site links.
www.sightsavers.org International charity aimed at supporting those with sight difficulties.
www.avert.org/aids.htm Global information about Aids.
www.rafi.ki/gemin-iplus/ Rafiki project: MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières) is an international medical
humanitarian organisation. It delivers emergency medical aid to people affected by armed conflict,
epidemics, natural disasters or exclusion from health care.