1 CONTEXT: HEALTH, DEVELOPMENT
AND SPORT
“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not
merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The enjoyment of the highest attainable
standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without
distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition.”1
Constitution of the World Health Organization (WHO), 1946
The fundamental right to health articulated by the World Health Organization (WHO)
in 1946 remains integral to development today. This right is strongly reflected in
the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the guiding international development
framework adopted by the United Nations (UN) in 2000, and the Human
Development Index used to measure the progress of all nations against universal human
development goals.
Healthy human development is a necessary foundation for all development progress.
Without healthy populations, the achievement of development objectives will be
out of reach. Good health is fundamental to the ability of individuals to realize their
full human potential. It is also a crucially important economic asset. Low levels
of health impede people’s ability to work and earn a living for themselves and their
families. When someone becomes ill, an entire family can become trapped in a downward
spiral of lost income and high health-care costs.2 On a national scale, poor population
health diminishes productivity and impedes economic growth, while investment in
better health outcomes is generally seen as an investment in economic growth.
CHAPTER 2 SPORT AND HEALTH: PREVENTING DISEASE AND PROMOTING HEALTH
The close relationship between health and development is responsible for the prominence
given to health in the MDGs. Health is represented in three of the eight MDGs:
• MDG 4: Reduce child mortality;
• MDG 5: Improve maternal health; and
• MDG 6: Combat HIV and AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
Health is also understood to be a contributing factor to achieving the remaining five
MDGs, particularly those related to education, gender equality and the eradication of
extreme poverty and hunger. Achieving the MDGs, however, remains a daunting challenge.
If the trends observed since 2000 continue, most low-income countries will require
additional resources and assistance to meet their health-related MDGs.
As Table 2.1 shows, the key health issues affecting low- and middle-income countries include,
but also extend beyond, those set out in the MDGs. Efforts to address non-communicable
diseases, violence, and injuries — and their determinants — are also urgently needed.
TABLE 2.1 LEADING CAUSES OF MORTALITY AND DISEASE BURDEN (IN DISABILITYADJUSTED
LIFE YEARS) AMONG ADULTS WORLDWIDE, 2002
MORTALITY – ADULTS AGED 15-59
Rank Cause Deaths (000)
1 HIV/AIDS 2279
2 Ischaemic heart disease 1332
3 Tuberculosis 1036
4 Road traffic injuries 814
5 Cerebrovascular disease 783
6 Self-inflicted injuries 672
7 Violence 473
8 Cirrhosis of the liver 382
9 Lower respiratory infections 352
10 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 343
DISEASE BURDEN – ADULTS AGED 15-59
Rank Cause DALYs (000)
1 HIV/AIDS 68 661
2 Unipolar depressive disorders 57 843
3 Tuberculosis 28 380
4 Road traffic injuries 27 264
5 Ischaemic heart disease 26 155
6 Alcohol use disorders 19 567
7 Hearing loss, adult onset 19 486
8 Violence 18 962
9 Cerebrovascular disease 18 749
10 Self-inflicted injuries 18 522
MORTALITY – ADULTS AGED 60+
Rank Cause Deaths (000)
1 Ischaemic heart disease 5825
2 Cerebrovascular disease 4689
3 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2399
4 Lower respiratory infections 1396
5 Trachea, bronchus, lung cancers 928
6 Diabetes mellitus 754
7 Hypertensive heart disease 735
8 Stomache cancer 605
9 Tuberculosis 495
10 Colon and rectum cancers 477
DISEASE BURDEN – ADULTS AGED 60+
Rank Cause DALYs (000)
1 Ischaemic heart disease 31 481
2 Cerebrovascular disease 29 595
3 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 14 380
4 Alzheimer and other dementias 8569
5 Cataracts 7384
6 Lower respiratory infections 6597
7 Hearing loss, adult onset 6548
8 Trachea, bronchus, lung cancers 5952
9 Diabetes mellitus 5882
10 Vision disorders, age-related and other 4766
Source: World Health Organization, World Health Report 2003 – Shaping the Future 3
Dr.Abdirizak
Topic: Health and Sports (Read 13496 times)
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November 09, 2011, 11:26:38 PM