There is a strong connection between housing and health. Medical statistics identify four serious diseases such as typhus, cholera; tuberculosis and acute rheumatism show the relationship. Insanitary and overcrowded housing conditions in addition to other factors such as air pollution and poor diet resulting in poverty and ill health of every kind. Also poverty and wars leading to refugees and immigrants producing poor housing lead to development of slums and increased ill health. Diseases such as acute rheumatism and tuberculosis which carry high mortality rate are especially aggravated by overcrowded and damp living conditions.
The reduction in the number of infectious diseases noticed today stem from improvement in the housing situation both in the villages and in the cities. In the cities large new blocks of flats have been developed as well as new housing estates. Adequate space is provided for children to play and fresh air to circulate. Some of the health hazards created by the modern housing include loneliness especially in the cities, as well as the pollution and noise hazards that come from using generators. Houses inconveniently planned may also contribute to strain eg those with lack of storage space or in adequate cooking arrangements. Also one should not overlook the physical danger to which the individual is subjected in a modern house. The hazards of the modern house are many particularly to these very young and old and to those of subnormal intelligence. These include fires of all sorts particularly gas and electric. Badly placed medicine cupboards, bottles of disinfectants or weed killers left about from time to time are responsible for the death of children or their disablement. While the many plastic gadgets are a great boom they also present new dangers. In spite of these disadvantages improved housing schemes can claim a good deal of the credit for the improvement of life statistics seen recently.
Minimum requirements for health
A dwelling house must be built to protect the inhabitant from the elements. It must in no way be responsible for causing disease by poor structure condition in modern times. There is a demand for accommodation to promote health ie give a positive sense of well being and not just absence of disease.
The recommended standards of fitness for habitation are as follows; the dwelling should
1. Be in all respects dry.
2. Be in a good state of repair.
3. Have each room properly lighted and ventilated.
4. Have an adequate supply of wholesome water laid on for all purposes inside the dwelling.
5. Be provided with efficient and adequate means of supplying hot water for domestic purposes.
6. Have an internal or otherwise readily accessible water closet.
7. Have a fixed bath preferably in a separate room.
8. Have a proper drainage system.
9. Be provided with adequate points for electrification
10. Have satisfactory facilities for preparing and cooking food.
11. Have a well ventilated larder or food store.
12. Have a proper provision for the storage of food.
13. Have a satisfactory surfaced path to outbuildings and convenient access from a street to the back door.
The minimum requirement for health much depends on the house holder. An educated, sensible, intelligent person can keep himself and his family healthy in a house with the most limited facilities. Conversely a modern house can quickly become an insanitary and unhealthy dwelling if badly managed. It has been proved without doubt that the majority of families if given reasonable living accommodation will strive to improve their standards to the level of their accommodation. A well designed, well equipped house may become unfit for habitation if it is allowed to become
13. Overcrowded
13. In a state of despair-so that it becomes damp or unsafe.
13. Infected with rodents, vermin and parasites
13. Insanitary
Houses allowed to fall into a state of disrepair not only become damp but are likely to become infected with rodents and vermin. The occupants who usually have poor standards of personal hygiene also become infected with parasites.
Healing words
But if the spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also give life to your mortal body by His spirit that dwell in you. Romans 8: 11.
As we think of the significance of the death and resurrection of Christ this Easter, we need to understand that it is the work
