Question

Project Assignment:

In addition to everyday poverty in the Favelas, a disaster is particularly hard on vulnerable populations. Further develop out your plan to address the needs of vulnerable populations. Describe who the vulnerable populations are, why they are considered vulnerable, and how your plan will address their health promotion disease prevention needs.

Answer 1

Favela

Favela is a shantytown or slum in Brazil. The first favela in Latin America is currently known as Providencia in the center of Rio de Janeiro. This favela was a vacant land in the olden days and then occupied by the soldiers who were the victims of war and rejected by the cities because of their poor financial status. There after a dense population started to settle down in favelas or the slums in Brazil as they were continuously get rejected from the well settled urban areas as they were poor or enslaved people.

Vulnerable population in favelas

Vulnerable population are those who are more or most likely to be exposed to the chance of being attacked or harmed either physically or emotionally.

Mainly the vulnerable population consists of children, adolescents and women ( especially pregnant and lactating mothers). In addition to poverty the disasters such as land slides may give a heavy burden on them especially the vulnerable population. Infants and children are more prone to infections as their immune system is in the process of maturing. Most of the slum dwelling children are malnourished so they are susceptible to frequent illness. Pregnant and lactating women are always in high risk category in slums because of the polluted environment , water, inadequate supplies of nutrients and the inadequate health care facilities. Adolescents arw in their most crucial transition stage and they are more vulnerable to illegal activities such as drug and alcohol abuse, trafficking etc. Elderly population is an another category of vulnerable population because of their degrading health status.

Health promotion and disease prevention needs or activities

Government and health care authorities should take necessary steps to ensure the proper housing, water , health facilities for the people in favelas. Poorly planned urbanisation leads to the rise of slums. So Government should plan appropriate strategies for:

- safe and secure housing

- safe and clean water

- proper sanitation measures

- proper waste disposal methods

Health promotion activities for the vulnerable population

* Primary health care facilities ( should include curative services, family planning services, referral services,preventive and promotive services)

* Establishment of Community development services like schools , women support groups

* Maternal and child health services( to prevent maternal and infant mortality, to ensure safe delivery and adequate birth weight for the new born babies)

* Child health services should include immunization services, health education services, proper growth monitoring of the children, nutritional supplements , vitamin supplements and ensure education facilities for the children.

* Special health clinics and services for elderly and care homes

* Care and nursing homes for the disabled people

*Vocational training and income generating activities for women and day care centers for babies of working women.

* legal measures to control drug abuse in adolescents and health education , counselling services for children .

* Equal distribution of health services to the population in slum areas.