Health Promotion in a Globalized World
Health promotion is a cornerstone of primary health care and a core function of public health.
Its value is increasingly recognized; it is both effective and cost-effective in reducing the burden of
disease and in mitigating the social and economic impact of diseases. The links between health
promotion, health, and human and economic development are widely acknowledged.1
2. The 1st Global Conference on Health Promotion (Ottawa, 1986) and the resulting Ottawa
Charter for Health Promotion are recognized worldwide as the foundation of the concepts and
principles of modern health promotion. The Ottawa Conference, which carried forward the spirit of the
Declaration of Alma-Ata, and the subsequent series of WHO global conferences held in Adelaide,
Australia (1988), Sundsvall, Sweden (1991), Jakarta (1997) and Mexico City (2000) provided
guidance and direction on actions to be taken to address the determinants of health so as to achieve
health for all. Through behavioural, social, policy and environmental interventions, health promotion
has contributed to positive changes in people’s health-related habits, which in turn have helped to
reduce such causes of death and illness as heart diseases, road injuries, infectious diseases, and
HIV/AIDS.2 The benefits are, however, more evident in people of a higher socioeconomic status.
Hence there is a pressing need to complement programmes that reduce risk factors with policies that
create conditions for better health in vulnerable groups.
3. The context in which health promotion strategies are applied has changed markedly since the
Ottawa Conference, most notably as a result of globalization, which raises both challenges and
opportunities for health promotion. The 6th Global Conference on Health Promotion, entitled “Policy
and Partnership for Action: Addressing the Determinants of Health” (Bangkok, 7–11 August 2005),
was convened by WHO and the Government of Thailand with a view to contributing to reduction of
health inequality in a globalized world through health promotion./.../
Its value is increasingly recognized; it is both effective and cost-effective in reducing the burden of
disease and in mitigating the social and economic impact of diseases. The links between health
promotion, health, and human and economic development are widely acknowledged.1
2. The 1st Global Conference on Health Promotion (Ottawa, 1986) and the resulting Ottawa
Charter for Health Promotion are recognized worldwide as the foundation of the concepts and
principles of modern health promotion. The Ottawa Conference, which carried forward the spirit of the
Declaration of Alma-Ata, and the subsequent series of WHO global conferences held in Adelaide,
Australia (1988), Sundsvall, Sweden (1991), Jakarta (1997) and Mexico City (2000) provided
guidance and direction on actions to be taken to address the determinants of health so as to achieve
health for all. Through behavioural, social, policy and environmental interventions, health promotion
has contributed to positive changes in people’s health-related habits, which in turn have helped to
reduce such causes of death and illness as heart diseases, road injuries, infectious diseases, and
HIV/AIDS.2 The benefits are, however, more evident in people of a higher socioeconomic status.
Hence there is a pressing need to complement programmes that reduce risk factors with policies that
create conditions for better health in vulnerable groups.
3. The context in which health promotion strategies are applied has changed markedly since the
Ottawa Conference, most notably as a result of globalization, which raises both challenges and
opportunities for health promotion. The 6th Global Conference on Health Promotion, entitled “Policy
and Partnership for Action: Addressing the Determinants of Health” (Bangkok, 7–11 August 2005),
was convened by WHO and the Government of Thailand with a view to contributing to reduction of
health inequality in a globalized world through health promotion./.../
posted by Aloyzio Achutti at 3:06 PM
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