Family and health : How they are linked

Some people are fabulously rich but do not take care of their families; rather enjoy life with their friends. This phenomenon is more common in the cities, where one man’s issue is not another person’s concern. 

We must see our acquaintances as our immediate fraternity. A family is so important that one has no cause to disown his or hers. It may appear rational when one takes the decision to disregard one’s family, but the result is disastrous. 

I would like to know if you have ever gone to a place where you did not understand their language or know anyone?  What about a place that you went to by invitation where people received you with an embrace and had dinner with you? 

That feeling of being alone captured in the first experience is how those without families feel, while the feeling of the latter is the benefit of people who connect with their family. In Africa, particularly in Ghana, there are these two unique types of families which are so closely knit together that the ties impact positively on the health of members. 

Better relationships for well-being

The nuclear family is one comprising the mother, father and children and the extended family system includes uncles, aunties, cousins, grandparents who are so closely fused that the needs and concerns of every individual affect everyone’s health within that family. The health of each member is the responsibility of the family head. The better the relationship, the healthier the members in the family. 

In all aspects of life, there are both the good and bad sides, but the totality of the situation is its positive side. Those who belong to good, caring and conscious families, therefore, get enough of what they need to live longer and happier lives. There is no doubt that the family system has positive impact on health despite the fact that there may be some few isolated cases of neglect. Even some recalcitrant members of a family who come to their senses and return home are easily absorbed by the rest. This way, the family saves these recalcitrant members from all possible challenges that could make the whole sense of good health a mirage. 

In Africa, particularly Ghana, a whole family is described as a thick tropical forest because of the several characters which constitute it. The closeness of the family makes it easy to know the genetic problems of each member and to know how to handle them. 

Family health care

The importance of a family in health care cannot be over-emphasised. When a family member is sick, the rest give moral support, spend time and money to ensure that he recovers from the illness. It is not uncommon seeing family members donating blood and even donating organs such kidneys, to save the life of a family member.

When somebody is discharged from the hospital, it is the family that takes care of him until he becomes completely healed. The more the family pays attention to its members, the healthier they will be. 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines health as a state of physical, mental and social wellbeing. In broken homes, issues such as misery, vulnerability to diseases, hunger and poverty are common. There is no training, education and employment. There are always health problems in such families. Health is broad and can be viewed from different perspectives. 

The fact that one does not have a family for some sort of control in one’s life resulting in the person doing what he likes means that person is not healthy. Developing countries are struggling to eradicate streetism, child labour, child exploitation and teenage pregnancy. School dropouts have increased. A lot of resources have been committed yet the results are little. With family intervention, these objectives could be achieved without even a campaign. 

Most of the health interventions, including poliomyelitis and measles supplemental immunisation activities (SIAs) among other campaigns in the developing countries are based on households and have been effective. Adolescent health, gender issues and care for the aged will depend on the type of the family they belong to. The family approaches in these perspectives are cheaper, workable and effective.

In Africa, the extended family plays an important role in health. In emergencies, any family member who has the means takes the initiative without expecting any monetary returns. In such families, there is mutual understanding and collaboration in all aspects of life.

In Africa, and Ghana in particular, family ties are the pillars of societies, and so the African system should be preserved.