The impact of health education on informal settlements

BASIL FREDERICKS WRITES:

Over the past few decades the city of Windhoek experienced a rapid growth of urbanisation. This has put tremendous strain on the health sector.

It is known that the healthier a country's population the stronger its workforce. Thus, communities living in informal settlements with poor health conditions are directly affected. This can be attributed to the accelerated migration of rural people into urban areas causing informal settlements to grow beyond the capacity of the city to provide adequate service.

This is further compounded by the lack of political and municipal will to address the issue, resulting in persistence of urban poverty and informal settlements.

The challenge to eradicate informal settlements and address inherent health inequalities is a massive one. These communities, many of whom are poor, often illiterate and unskilled, try to find employment in the city. This further leads them to be exposed to crime and violence, living a life of fear and low social status. The effects on the youth are visible through aggression in order to cope. The subsequent overcrowding causes severe pressure on municipal services with accompanying environmental pollution. The occupational health and safety hazards faced are often added to those of poor living environments, poor nutrition and unsatisfactory housing.



SLOW PROGRESS

According to the Millennium Development Goals improving living conditions and access to quality healthcare for these informal settlements is slow. The overcrowding and poor housing, coupled with the dirt and lack of financial resources, contribute to the presence and spread of varied infectious diseases in these settlements, affecting mostly women and children. Eradicating the poor health conditions in these settlements requires education and proper health planning.

Social factors amongst others, the lack of culturally appropriate services, language barriers and prejudice are factors.

This population group often lacks the basic understanding of how to navigate the health system, and is therefore vulnerable to unethical health workers.

CHANGING MINDSETS

The benefits of effective and sustainable hygiene education programmes in informal settlements are numerous. Hygiene education programmes are among the most cost-effective ways especially in high-density settlements where residents are at greater risk. More emphasis on training and the use and maintenance of toilets is imperative. Education will have the ability to change the mindset and behaviour of those communities.

The country suffers massive financial losses through health expenses on diseases that could be prevented.

Educating children on basic hygiene and sanitation is very important. Children are generally eager to learn and this can instill and promote positive behavioural change. This can have a positive impact on effective learning, reduction on infectious diseases, and environmental cleanliness.



OPENING UP ECONOMIC

OPPORTUNITIES

Access to health educational opportunities for these settlers provides the foundation for future access to economic opportunities. They are not covered by social protection or comprehensive healthcare and commonly suffer poverty related diseases, unless covered through a work related injury. Therefore, education equips people with knowledge and skills for daily living, increases opportunities for income and job security, provides people with a sense of control over life circumstances and enables them to participate fully within their communities and broader society.

Through partnerships this will create much-needed social development and capacity building through the sustainability of services and providing employment opportunities for these communities. An effective programme can address these behavioural and sociological dimensions of health-seeking behaviour by mobilising the community to actively seek healthcare and raising awareness about the range of available services. A sense of community ownership in the health programmes will leave the informal settlers with a sense of dignity and pride but at the same time bring about social improvements.

The aim of health education in any country is to reduce vulnerability and improve health-seeking behaviour in order to reduce risks of diseases and death. A secondary benefit is the reduction of healthcare costs.



SOCIAL EXCLUSION

Specific programmes should be developed that will help build self-confidence and self-esteem in order to overcome the stigma of social exclusion. Empowering marginalised women can further help promote health, through women's networks that will build social capital and strengthen social cohesion. Health and financial programmes can improve the standard and quality of life and personal well-being for the settlers. There should be constant support from communities and local leaders, through interactive learning programmes, that should be encouraged to promote a wider support of health education initiatives. This at its core requires that the causes of poor socio-economic conditions in informal settlements be recognised and addressed effectively.

Effective education, appropriate skills development and economic growth forms the basis of human capital needed to transform our country in a positive way.