Health, a wealth

Can a person get healthier even in inhuman environment?

Yes

  

Health as per UN definition is 

- Physical

- Mental and 

- Social 

Wellbeing. Not merely an absence of disease or infirmity.

Example : 

Nelson Mandela and his compatriots were sentenced to life imprisonment and sent to prison in Robben Island in 1964. Generally, the prisoners who were sent to Robben Island never returned back alive due to the gruelling and inhuman treatments meted out there. 

However, Nelson Mandela and his compatriots made up their mind to put in all out efforts to keep their spirit high. The prison officials tried different tactics to break their spirit, like solitary cnfinement. But, Mandela and his team never gave up.

 As against their hope of early freedom, the ordeal went on for 18 years. 

By 1982, the British Government realised, only a person like Nelson Mandela can save South Africa from the brink of civil war. Hence, they took him back to the mainland and kept him as a prisoner for another 9 years. Continued negotiation with him to work for ending the uncontrollable riots in the country and also to end the apartheid. 

Nelson Mandela was awarded Nobel Prize for Peace in 1993.

Finally, the apartheid regime came to an end in 1994. On 10th May 1994, Nelson Mandela became the President of the apartheid free South Africa. 

Though, his physical health took a beating in the process, his mental, social and spiritual health continued to grow from strength to strength. On the overall, he was much more healthier, as compared to what he was in 1964.

When a person gets caught in an inhuman environment, his/her physical health will get affected automatically. But, the maintenance of mental and social health will still be the choice of the individual. If one chooses to grow stronger mentally and socially, it is  possible, which in turn will protect the physical health to an extent.

We are never left with nothing as long as we retain the freedom to choose how we will respond.

                               - Victor Frankl