The analysis of patterns of disease has been an important geographical theme for more than 150 years, since Dr John Snow mapped the distribution of cholera victims in Soho, London, and identified a single water pump as the source of the epidemic (see www.csiss.orgclassicscontent8).
At KS1, compare photographs of houses and homes in different parts of the world and discuss the relationship between health and hygiene. Link this to locality studies (PoS 3) or environmental topics (PoS 5).
For KS2, the Global Eye website provides some excellent material: www.globaleye.org.uk (select “index”, then “themes” and “health”). Pupils could investigate the superbly pitched material about HIVAids in South Africa as part of QCA unit of study 16 “Geography in the News”.
The essential geographical reference is the World Health Organisation’s website www.who.inten (select “health topics”, then “tuberculosis” and “stopTB country information”). This gives country profiles and data tables, and links to the superb “Global Atlas of infectious diseases” which allows you to create and print your own maps. This site could be used to:
* investigate, at KS3, the link between TB and socio-economic indicators such as GNP or access to safe drinking water, as part the Development theme (PoS 6i);
* analyse, at GCSE, the global pattern of TB;
* consider, at A-level, the distribution of TB at the national and local scales.
