GUEST COLUMN
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September 2008
Meet Our Featured Guest Columnist:
Dr. Carl Taylor
Dr. Carl Taylor is professor emeritus in the department of international health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He was part of the team of global health experts that wrote the research documents for an historic meeting at Alma-Ata, in 1978. At the time, more than half of the world’s people did not have access to affordable, local health services and many were without the basic needs for survival. Delegates laid out a vision to improve daily life and bring health care to all.
Q: What does "health and human rights" mean to you?
A: Bringing health and human rights together expresses a sincere response to the deepest hopes of the billion people in greatest need around the world. The phrase should be more specific, Good Health Is A Fundamental Human Right. Everyone has some kind of health but for the poor, health is usually also poor. But poverty in money is only part of the real life causes along with many other influences such as behavior and habits, which are often even more important. The Rich often also have poor health since their diet is rich with the wrong kinds of luxury and quick foods and they don't get enough exercise.
A: Bringing health and human rights together expresses a sincere response to the deepest hopes of the billion people in greatest need around the world. The phrase should be more specific, Good Health Is A Fundamental Human Right. Everyone has some kind of health but for the poor, health is usually also poor. But poverty in money is only part of the real life causes along with many other influences such as behavior and habits, which are often even more important. The Rich often also have poor health since their diet is rich with the wrong kinds of luxury and quick foods and they don't get enough exercise.