This
book seeks to examine the environment in its totality
and its impact on health in a Himalayan eco-system.
As a fragile and threatened life-support system, the
problems of this region have been a matter of considerable
concern in recent years. Using an environmental health
approach, which sees health issues embedded within
the natural, social, political and economic systems,
the author explores the subjective and objective components
of people?s health in Pauri Garhwal district of Uttaranchal.
She brings forth evidence, which demonstrates the
importance of ecological, socio-economic and political
linkages in health. Environmental degradation, erosion
of subsistence economy, food scarcity, subsequent
malnutrition and ill-health are closely related and
constitute a vicious circle that perpetuate stagnation.
Economic poverty rooted in physical and environmental
poverty creates the conditions in which diseases originate.
The study highlights the problems of this hill region,
and makes a strong case for bearing in mind its peculiarities
and specificities in the development of health service
models and creative strategies of problem resolution.
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