Multi millions live in the most dire of conditions in the slums of Africa, India and Asia. I am stunned that anyone survives the severity of what I have seen and experienced. Children are the most vulnerable. They are starving, tortured, assaulted and refused security from most corrupt police forces. Alcoholism and glue sniffing are two crippling problems of slum life. They are cheap to buy and numbs the pain of hunger. It is for this reason that many residents opt to buy alcohol instead. In Africa and South America and most city streets glue sniffers are prevelent. Thankfully, this problem is not rife in children; however they often face the knock on effect of alcohol such as abuse.
Health
Sickness and disease is rife in slum living while infection spreads quickly. and proves fatal in the case of the young and weak. The main illnesses to affect slum life include measles, conjunctivitis, colds and flu and headlice. Misinformed adults readily give children in the slums tobacco to chew which can lead to under lying health problems.
With a strong belief in India’s native medical practice of ayurveda, many traditional people of the slums will refuse to go to doctors or hospitals and instead will take a visit to the village ayurvedic doctor. These ayurvedic doctors believe using the five elements that make up the universe including the human body, earth, fire, water, air and ether, can cure illnesses. Unfortunately this does not compare to modern medicine and many slum people suffer and even die as a result of the care.
Education
Children living in the slums have little or no education as they are not known to the Government as Goan. The local schools will not accept these children and they have to rely on outside charities and organizations to help school them. Any child from the slums who is accepted into school will often choose to work for money instead of attending.