THE World Health Organisation (WHO) defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
Apart from the medical field, health is also regarded as one of the important aspects in the fraternity of religions and cultures.
Islam, for example, emphasises the necessity to preserve health as a form of gratitude towards the healthy body bestowed by God.
The emphasis on maintaining health is also in correlation with the principle of preserving life which is highlighted as one of the higher objectives of the syariah. Life must be safeguarded from any potential harm and illnesses.
Therefore, every individual holds a certain responsibility to maintain self-health and the health of the whole public.
What are the personal responsibilities in relation to health?
First, is the responsibility of each individual to care for his own health. This responsibility asserts the need to follow a healthy lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle includes eating a balanced diet, performing exercises at least three times a week, and getting enough rest and sleep. These are essential to fulfil the daily body needs.
In Islam, fulfilling the right of the body is stated in one of Prophet Muhammad’s traditions:
“Your body has a right on you” (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 6134).
The tradition was conveyed by Prophet Muhammad to one of his companions who spent long hours praying and fasting such that he neglected his health and household.
As a further example, when one is afflicted with an illness, one should seek treatment. In certain degrees of risks, seeking treatment becomes obligatory in Islam.
The Council of the Islamic Fiqh Academy in a conference resolution in 1992 emphasised the obligation to undergo treatment without which such illness could threaten the life of the person, cause permanent disability, or even become contagious.
The resolution underscores the fact that not only does Islam urge a person to treat illness for the sake of his own life, but also for the benefit of those around him.
The second concerns personal responsibility to public health. Research and development in the field of medicine has improved public healthcare. Many treatments have been developed especially to curb the occurrence of disease outbreak, one of which is immunisation.
Immunisation has curbed the spread of many contagious diseases and established immunity among the community. It is a process where a person is made immune to an infectious disease by the administration of a vaccine.
The antigens in vaccines act to stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies against specific diseases. Immunity is strengthened by priming the defence cells to recognise the particular virus or bacteria so that they are primed to fight it in future.
There are many types of immunisation that focus on specific groups such as babies, food handlers and travellers.
In Islam, immunisation is highly encouraged given that it is beneficial for the entire public.
Dr Muhammad Ali Albar, in one of his works, The Law of Medications and Hopeless Conditions, highlights the Islamic view on the permissibility by the authorities of a country to obligate its people to undergo vaccination to protect public interest, especially from epidemic diseases.
However, some people refuse to vaccinate their children for a number of reasons. Some of them are influenced by the false information that vaccine causes autism. It does not. The publication by Andrew Jeremy Wakefield that claims the link between measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism is not proven as a legitimate fact.
His findings could not be replicated when investigated in several different studies.
After several investigations, his publication pertaining to the claim was retracted in 2010 from The Lanc et journal due to undeclared conflict of interest, manipulated evidence, falsified facts and broken ethics in research conduct.
The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Paediatrics, Institute of Medicine of the US National Academy of Sciences, UK National Health Service and the Cochrane Library found no evidence linking the MMR vaccine to autism in their studies.
They also confirmed that the vaccine is safe and effective in the prevention of diseases.
This brings to the third and last responsibility — that is, the responsibility to disseminate accurate information on health.
In Islam, the dissemination of any information should be preceded by proper understanding and validation (Quran, 49: 6).
In public health, the information that should be prioritised and taken into account is the one conveyed by an authority such as the Health Ministry.
A person or party should convey information that is consistent with the authority and current medical findings.
Everyone should be aware of their personal responsibilities in relation to health, which symbolise the love for one’s self and compassion for the public.
MOHAMMAD MUSTAQIM MALEK
Research Officer, Centre for Science & Environment Studies, Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM)