What are the main characteristics of health of the people of our country?

Following are the characteristics of the health of the people of the country:

1. India has about 17 percent of the world's population but it bears a frightening 20 percent of the global burden of diseases. Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) is an indicator to guage the number of people dying pre-maturely due to particular diseases.

2. Every year about five lakh children die of water-borne diseases in our country. The danger of AIDS is increasing very fast.

3. At present less than 20 percent of the population utilizes public health facilities.

4. Only 38 percent of primary health centres have the doctors and medicines. These centres do not have even x-ray or blood testing facilities.

5. Villagers have no access to any specialised medical care like pediatrics, gynaecology, anesthesia and obstetrics.

6. It is estimated that there are more than 120 lakh blind persons in India. The total 80 percent are blind due to contract.

7. Tuberculosis (TB) is a widespread disease in India. It is estimated that 14 million people are suffering from tuberculosis in India.

8. It is estimated that nearly 20 percent of the country's population lives in endemic diseases area.