If you take a moment to go through India’s WHO Statistical Profile (2013), you will be appalled at the high risks the Indian population faces from the time of infancy till death, irrespective of whatever age that may happen. Virgil said ‘health is the greatest wealth’ and going by this quote we are free to assume that if health is taken care of every good thing will follow, including wealth. Good health saves lives and it is especially important to look into the wellbeing of infants and children so that the future of our nation will be secure.

The secret of good health lies in our lifestyle; the foods we eat, the water we consume, the habits we have and the overall choices we make. Adding to these, in India there is a dimension of poverty and lack of cleanliness. Surely one’s health would go plummeting down if one drinks non-potable water or eat adulterated food, which is rampant here. We also need to be aware of the fact that if a mother is ill or has died, it is nearly impossible for the children to survive and lead healthy lives. The situation would be similar if the father is disabled or too ill to earn and support his family. We cannot imagine the impact this would have on children who are malnourished and spend hours to find food and clean water or those who are prone to diseases related to defecation in public spaces, mosquitoes, improper garbage disposal and so on. There surely will be no time for school or other activities and hence, no real development in the country.

Providing health care is, in reality, an act of justice because it bridges the ever-widening gap between the haves and have-nots in our society. We can work towards a healthier India only when we believe that there is a dearth of the same plaguing our system. How can India grow and develop if its citizens are diseased and dying on the regular? Changing our outlook on health care can really make the difference here, instead of treating illness as a way of life; we need to begin working against it vehemently, therefore, allowing communities to live full lives not merely surviving, if even that.