meaning of health

Health, for the purposes of this project, is defined as a state which encompasses physical, mental and social well-being. ^[1]Amended version of definition by WHO Available here: https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/constitution Health is non-binary concept, a spectrum of well-being, which allows for natural fluctuation. Health should not be a utopian ideal but a dynamic process which society at large can engage with and benefit from. ^[2]F. Leonardi “The Definition of Health: Towards New Perspectives” (2018) 48 International Journal of Health Services 4 p. 741  It is not a lifetime objective, rather a resource for living.^[3]World Health Organisation The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion Geneva: Switzerland World Health Organisation; 1986

It is important to note that health is not contingent on the absence  of disease; the two can co-exist. Striving for absolute  well-being may is not realistic and may lead to over- medicalisation of the human condition.^[4]M. Huber et al. “How Should We Define Health?” (2011) 343 British Medical Journal 7817 In setting their own goals, most disabled people aim to manage their condition and be  as ‘healthy’ as possible while living with a disability. Reframing the traditional definition means placing a greater emphasis on adaptability and resilience in coping with inevitable health challenges.^[5]“What is Health? The Search for an Accurate Definition” Health Policy Partnership Available … Continue reading

Under the medical model, disability was considered a deviation from health norms. However, human rights do not require a certain health or bodily status.^[6]T. Degener “Disability in a Human Rights Context” (2016) 5 Laws 35

Health is relative and this is reflected in the language of the UNCRPD, which states that persons with disabilities have a right to the “highest attainable standard of health.” ^[7]UNCRPD 2006 s25(1)

Public policy is key when  it comes to maximising health capabilities over the life course. Though not uncontroversial, prevention policies are not contrary to disability rights.^[8]T. Shakespeare Disability Rights and Wrongs Revisited New York: Routledge 2014 When employed correctly, they can promote health and more importantly, limit the development of secondary disabilities and co-morbidities.^[9]World Health Organisation and World Bank World Report on Disability WHO-Verlag 2011  We recognise prevention policies as useful tools, insofar as they can mitigate the negative impact of Covid-19 on persons with disabilities.  

The scope of project is reflected in the research questions, which will consider Covid 19 and disability rights in relevant contexts. These include but are not limited to, congregated residential settings, in-home assistance, general health services, and respite, employment, education, transport and access to supply chains. Specific research questions will assess  intersectional issues in relation to poverty, intersectional identities,  domestic violence and hate crimes. Research questions  regarding the pandemic response will address restrictions, health data, vaccination protocols, the role of disabled people in emergency planning and any legal challenges taken against States. In this way, we hope to establish the overall impact Covid 19 the rights of persons with disabilities in Ireland, UK, Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Sweden.