Health and Nutrition

Chapter 12

HEALTH AND NUTRITION
“Ill being” and “ill health” is a multidimensional term covering not only disease but also other dimensions such as hunger, exclusion, isolation, insecurity and powerlessness. This ill health can consequently prevent individuals from realizing their full potential. Good health, in contrast, is identified as a vital component of a good quality of life. That is why access to good health is recognized as a basic human need and a fundamental human right. The WHO‘s definition of health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” applies to all human beings regardless of age gender, nationality and culture. Inequalities and deficiencies in health thus affect the well being of an individual and welfare of a society as a whole. A healthy population is not only valued in its own right, but it also raises the human capital of a country thereby positively contributing to the economic and social development. Allowing people to lead a life they value and enabling them to realize their potential as human beings is first and foremost requirement of human development. In order to address the most enduring failures of human development, the international community has drafted the Millennium Development Goals-a broad vision with internationally agreed set of time bound goals for reducing extreme poverty, extending gender equality, and advancing opportunities for health and education. These goals serve as benchmark of progress toward the vision of Millennium Declaration-guided by basic values of freedom, equality, solidarity, tolerance, respect for nature and shared responsibilities. These values share the commonality of conception of human well being in the concept of human development and also reflect the fundamental motivation for human rights. In this way, Millennium Development Goals, human development and human rights share the same motivation. Pakistan being a signatory...