Food Insecurity and Health - Essay Example

Economic disparity makes the population to experience other form of disparity (Tarasuk, 2009). According to Mikkonen& Raphael (2010), low income predisposes people to lack of necessities such as food, clothing and housing. Economic disparities influence the health of an individual or society. Another case is the fact that gender inequality occurs in favor of boys. Although some women may be at par with boys, they lack equal chances and this affects them emotionally and psychologically. Another aspect is inequality in relation to sexual orientation.

Due to lack of legislation legalizing same sex marriages, diseases arising from these unions are not treated and this may cause serious health problems. Racial inequalities also affect people’s well being. For example, some people cannot access decent and affordable healthcare services due to racism. In addition, exposure to poor surrounding, unemployment, poor quality education will lead to medical and social problems. Poor primary health care is a recipe for health risk in future (Kriegler et al., 2003). Food Insecurity and Health The most impacting story I have heard from people close to me is a child brought up from a family with no proper source of income.

He was from a single parent. The mother could not afford sufficient and quality food. She could also not afford the necessary primary health care. They lived in a suburb in association with hostile neighbors. With no proper food, the child growth was stunted. Vaccines given to this child at his tender age were minimal. This child could not access quality education. The child’s parent died early due to tuberculosis because of exposure to poor living conditions. The death affected this child for a long time.

He opted to crime and drug use in cooperation with his neighbors. Through injections of the drugs, he contracted Human Immunodeficiency Virus and eventually died due to lack of proper health care. The way this issue has unfolded to my life and those people close to me is that quality life right from beginning is a determinant of having longer life. Financial challenge is the main cause of people lacking access to quality and sufficient food. This leads to poor nutrition and poor eating habit.

In such a chaotic neighborhood, there is no proper primary health care or people are unable to have access. They also eat unhealthy and non-nutritious food. The living conditions are also stressful. They are prone to chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and asthma (McIntyre, Lynn & Krista, 2009). According to Food and Agricultural Organization (1996), food security means there is safe and nutritious food to meet dietary needs and food preference for an active and health life. The most common response geared towards addressing the issue of food insecurity is that initiated at the community level aiming at strengthening local control over food production.

Food Insecurity and Health Having community farms where everybody is involved in the production of food will ensure that everyone is involved in the production process. This will happen irrespective of the social strata one occupies in community. The produce harvested from these farms will be distributed to all those involved and this will create a level of food security. Community response may also be applicable at the urban population and as a result, provide food to those faced with hunger.

This community response is also applicable in the urban population and will be able to provide food to food insecure. The excess income from the sales