Homelessness and Diseases

It’s an undeniable fact that some diseases mutates and spreads fast among poor people more than it does to the rich. These diseases are commonly referred to as diseases of the poor because of their prevalence among the poor and under-privileged people in the society. They may include common body disorders, disabilities and other health attacks, break-outs and epidemics which are prevalent more among the poor than wealthier people in the society.

Moreover, it seems that the medical and pharmaceutical industry do not bother to place more emphasis and efforts towards the prevention and treatment of some tropical diseases such as schistosomiasis or lymphatic filariasis among others which are more pre-dominant among the poor.

Factors which leads to increase and spread of diseases among the poor…

Lack of sanitation.

Among the poor, adequate sanitation is usually a challenging factor which contributes to high rates of infection of various diseases such as malaria, typhoid, chagas and cholera. People who live in these conditions are more susceptible to suffer from these diseases. There is need for the governments and other aid bodies to try provide citizens and to sensitize them with proper sanitation methods.

 
 

Lack of adequate health care.

Poverty is usually associated with poor health care and the two have a vicious relationship. Remote areas where poor people reside are usually characterized by lack of adequate qualified medical staff to take care of various infections which affect the people and also health centers and hospitals lack basic devices, equipment and medical supplies to control and prevent various diseases which affect the poor.

It’s true that the geographical location as well as the socio-economic status of can curtail efforts of the impoverished to access quality health care, but it should be noted that universally, it is a basic right for human beings to access quality and affordable basic health care.

Poor nutrition.

The homeless are characterized by poverty and lack of sufficient income to take care of basic needs and thus they at times tend to settle for foods of poor nutrition. The diet may not be balanced and thus lack the three components required by the human body for proper growth and development; there are also instances when a person might be forced to skip a meal or two because he/she can’t afford to comfortably take all meals without jeopardizing other commitments which might too require money.

Also the prevalence of fast foods which are cheap and the best option for the homeless and resulted to poor dieting as such individuals rush for these fast foods with their only aim of getting their stomachs full. At the end, we will have people with full stomachs but with a myriad of other body infections and complications.

At times, the preparation of foods in hotels and food kiosks which might be frequented by the homeless might not meet the expected standards of health thereby putting at risk the health of those who consume such foods.

Contaminated water.

Water is a basic commodity which ensures the optimal functioning of our bodies and there are several diseases which are caused by drinking of contaminated water. Therefore the lack of clean water means that the homeless as well as other poor individuals who drink such water are susceptible to diseases including cholera, typhoid etc.