Major health promotion initiatives
Government Responses
Ottowa Charter for Health Promotion (1986)
The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, 1986, is an internationally accepted health promotion Policy with health goals as specified by the World Health Organization (WHO). These goals are to:
Developing Personal Skills
Providing information about health and giving people the opportunity to continue to develop personal skills that will enable greater control over personal health. The two subheadings in which can classify under developing personal skills are modifying personal behaviour and gaining access to information and support. Health promotion examples of developing personal skills are health education in schools and Quit Smoking campaigns.
Creating Supportive Environments
Involves encouraging and maintaining reciprocal relationships, which is, taking care of one another and the environment. The two subheadings in which can classify under creating supportive environments are personal support networks and community services and Sociocultural, physical, political and economic influences. Health promotion examples of creating supportive environments are shade structures and recycling programs
Strengthening Community Action
Establishing self-help groups, encouraging social support and active participation in health-related matters bring members of the community together to solve common problems and attend to the individual’s needs. The subheading which can classify under strengthening community action is empowering communities to take action. Health promotion examples of strengthening community action are CanTeen and Driver Reviver stations.
Reorienting Health Services
Reorienting the health sector so that health professionals look beyond the curative and clinical services to integrate health promotion into their work to address the overall needs of the individual. The two subheadings which can classify under reorienting health services is range of services and gaining access to services. Health promotion examples of reorienting health services are police working in schools to support road safety education and local area health centres working with schools to support school health strategies e.g. immunisation groups.
Building Healthy Public Policy
Legislating for improved health, healthier environments and more health-conscious goods and services. The three subheadings which can classify under building healthy public policy are identifying the impact of policies on health, influencing policy and deciding where to spend the money. Health promotion examples of building healthy public policy are graduated licensing schemes, smoke-free workplaces and restaurants, and compulsory fencing for home swimming pools.
The Jakarta Declaration on Health Promotion(1997)
The Ottawa Charter was affirmed by the Jakarta Declaration. It urges health promotion to build on and expand partnerships for health with all sectors of the community, and promotes social responsibility for health, the provision of supportive environments and a settings approach for the promotion of health.
The key components of the Jakarta Declaration are:
Promote Social Responsibility for Health
Involves the development of policies and practices that avoid harming the health of others, protect the environment and ensure sustainable use of resources, restrict production and trade of such substances as tobacco, and safeguard the individual at work
Secure an Infrastructure for Health Promotion
This includes providing incentives that influence a range of organisations to assist in activating health promotion strategies. It also means to continue to maximise the use of effective settings for health promotion to act as an organisational base, and success and experiences in health promotion should be documented to enhance the work of others
Increased Investments for Health Development
This should reflect the needs of specific groups such as women, children, the elderly, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, etc. increased investments should be taken into account, additional resources being channeled into education, housing and the health sector.
Consolidate and Expand Partnerships for Health
This will mean strengthening existing partnerships and forging new ones in all sectors of society, and partnerships can share expertise, resources and skills and me mutually beneficial
Increase Community Capacity and Empower the Individual
Health promotion is conducted with the involvement of the people – it is not simply enforced upon them. Leadership skills developed through training, access to resources and practical education are essential to helping the individual gain control
Australia's Health
A biennial report on Australia’s health including information on the patterns of health and illness, determinants of health, the supply of health services, and the cost and performance of health services. It addresses the national health priority areas.
Community Responses (state and local level health promotion initiatives)
State Initiatives
Significant steps came about in the late 1980’s, early 1990’s due to the national ‘Health for all Australian’s’ report and the subsequent national Better Health Program.
The focus areas in NSW are similar to the global focus areas and are targeted by government programs such as Quit for Life. They are supported by non-government organizations which are endeavoring to improve the health of the NSW population through health promotion. Examples:
Quit for Life - Cancer Council
Mental health awareness week - National Rotary Foundation
Jump rope for Life - Heart Foundation
Community/Local Initiatives
These may be designed to target specific health needs of the population within the community such as the needle exchange program. The local government might see a need to initiate health promotion strategies such as an immunisation program and others are initiated by individuals or small groups of people who for a variety of reasons are motivated to help others facing similar problems such as –Alcoholics Anonymous.
Examples of services provided by local governments include:
Child-care services
Information services
Recreational activities and facilities
Aged-care services
Safety initiatives
Employment Programs
