Slums, Slum Dwellers, and Health.

The author reflects on the connection between the built environment and health in the developed and developing countries. Slums are uniformly characterized by inadequate provision of basic infrastructure and public services necessary to sustain health. Settlements in slum areas are made of flimsy materials that offer scant protection against the elements, leaving their residents vulnerable to injury, violence, illness, and death. Further, since many of these settlements are illegal, slum dwellers often have no official addresses and entitlements, including the right to vote, public education and health care. At the Millennium Summit in September 2000, the states of the United Nations reaffirmed their commitment to prioritize sustainable development and eradicate poverty.