Health – A Fundamental Human Right

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “complete physical and mental well-being.” The WHO constitution was first adopted on April 7, 1948 and emphasizes the importance of a person’s social, physical, and psychological capacities. The basic components of health include the ability to maintain homeostasis and recover from adverse events. The WHO also focuses on mental and emotional well-being, including the capacity to cope with stress, acquire new skills, and maintain relationships.

Historically, health has been defined by its absence of disease. Nowadays, the World Health Organisation uses a biopsychosocial model, which integrates the social, psychological, and environmental components of disease. The WHO says that health is “complete well-being”, a highly ambitious goal. There are several ways to measure health. You can consult a textbook on clinical medicine or a medical journal to determine whether a patient has reached a certain level of health.

According to the World Health Organization, health is a fundamental human right. It states that every human being has the right to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical, mental, and social well-being. Promoting health means promoting healthful lifestyles and activities and reducing unhealthy ones. Various factors can affect the state of health. Some of these factors are caused by individual choices, while others are rooted in structural conditions. Hence, the promotion of healthy living is critical in our society.