Health Advocacy Campaign - Report Example

Health Advocacy Campaign (Student’s name) (Institution’s Name) Introduction Skin cancer continues to remain as of the health related conditions which face the modern society. The condition arises as a result of the exposure of skin to dangerous conditions and health hazards. One of the common causes of skin cancer relates to exposure to chemical substances. Such substances corrode the epidermis and make the skin vulnerable to cancer. Despite the attempts by several governments to control the propensity to chemical exposure a lot of action still needs to be done. Environmental conservation, more so, the control of chemical waste materials into the environment remains as one of the probable steps to curb the problem. There exist several means and ways through which such health concerns and policies reach the concerned authorities or the relevant groups. The health advocacy campaign remains as one of the strategic ways of compelling or pushing for the adoption of beneficial or healthy living practices and policies. The concerned individuals or groups opt for campaign strategies to create awareness of a health concern or to sensitize the public on better and beneficial practices to promote a healthy and conducive environment. One of the ways used to promote the advocacy campaigns relates to the use of mass media as an expansive and broadly acceptable tool. The use of mass media integrates various strategies of awareness creation, public sensitization, and more awakened push or implementation and adoption of better health practices This paper intends to develop a typical advocacy campaign seeking to address one of the concerns in our modern environment and societal setup. The article seeks to develop an advocacy campaign intended to address the spread of skin cancer associated with exposure to chemicals within the environment. The chemicals released mainly come from the industry activities which contaminate water and air. The practice remains as a health anathema which continues to affect the livelihood of many people within the society. Besides, this paper intends to discuss the affected persons, then target group of the advocacy campaign and also the purpose developing the campaign. Brief Summary of chemical exposure as a cause of skin cancer The major issue which forms the basic focus of this paper relates to the increasing trends in diagnosis of skin cancer among the city dwellers. The rapid increase in this condition rises from exposure to chemicals. Studies reveal that the chemicals present in air and water bodies originate from the pollution caused by industries and companies within the urban centers and wastes from industries into the environment. The rise in the industrialization process continues to lead to a great rise in the number of industries and companies producing or manufacturing products (Israel et al., 2010). One of the most significant characteristics of these enterprises or industries relates toothier emission and wastages disposals. Most of these companies implement weak and inefficient emission strategies within their strategy leading to great pollution of the environment. Some of the common types of pollutions characterize by such groups include noise pollution, water pollution as well as air pollution this paper seeks to concentrate on the effect of such pollution on the livelihood of human beings staying around such plants (Gupta, 2009). Skin cancer remains as one of the diseases that a typical city resident contends with. The rise in potential exposure to this skin condition remains a reality on the day-to-day basis. In fact, the nature of increasing trends of pollution activities endangers the lives of the city residents and those working in such plants. The entire ecology suffers from a polluted environment. In fact, several people who stay around and close to the manufacturing plants experience an immense challenge on health related issues (Ruddon, 2007). Despite the increase in such a menace, several governments continue to implement restrictive policies as a way of curbing the increasing patterns. The policies and regulations aim at ensuring reduced or controlled emission patterns as well as promoting healthy living of the people in such environs. This campaign concentrates on creating awareness on the causes and management of skin cancer. Besides, it focuses on the roles and responsibilities of the municipal government in reducing and eliminating the much pollution of the companies operating in the industrial areas and around the residential regions as a strategy to reduce chemical exposure to the environment. Statistics reveal that the companies eliminate their wasteful products towards regions of close proximities to the residential sites (Loue et al., 2003). Therefore, such wastes adversely affect the lives of people living around the companies. Despite the enactment of several companies regulating policies and the presence of charter service guidelines in the companies, most of them act ultra vires to such and regulation. The modern expansion of the industrialization space contributes immensely to the introduction of market players with little strategies to minimize and control such emission (Tarcher, 1992). Many people within the society lack the information on the causes of skin cancer. In fact, many remain oblivious to the fact that pollution of air and water predispose them to skin cancer. Similarly, the local authorities play little role in curbing the elimination of wasteful substances by companies into the environment. As a result, several pollution-related illnesses spread to people who occupy regions close to such companies. Therefore, this health advocacy campaign seeks to sensitize people against proximity issues to such production plants for purposes of preventing possible exposure to skin cancer. Secondly, this campaign aims to push for public awareness and compel the local authorities to act expediently in ensuring the implementation of policies to reduce such pollution. The policies advocated trying to achieve a healthy and conducive environment by making sure that all companies get located in the designated regions and that they become fitted with proper emission systems. There exist a great need for the adoption of this advocacy campaign so as to reduce the increasing chances of disease and health related issues (Williams et al., 2005). Besides the intended purpose, this campaign utilizes the media as a broad platform to allow or public participation. The mass media creates an opportunity for people to participate in the push for health reforms and also creates a great awareness. Great concerns continue to emerge relating to the role of the public in agitating for health policies. Therefore, this advocacy campaign acts as a mouthpiece to inform the local authorities of the need to regulate emission and wastes by campaigns operating within the urban locations (MacFarlane, 2010). Many people continue to suffer health-related conditions due to the exposure to the effluents from the companies. Therefore, the public demand for an action to be done forms the primary reason behind the development of this advocacy campaign. The affected people Skin cancer remains as one of the global health concerns. The condition arises from chemical exposure and other factors such as sun radiation. In the context of this paper, skin cancer affects those exposed to harmful chemicals as a result of pollution of water and air.Studies reveal that pollution concerns stand as a general anathema to any person benefiting from the environment; ideally, every individual benefit from the immediate surroundings. Recent surveys show that the urban dwellers remain at a high risk of skin cancer as the result of increasing exposure to pollutants. Therefore, this advocacy campaign seeks to act as a mouthpiece of present the plight of the urban dwellers within the city. In particular, the people working within such plants and those who stay around the companies receive the immediate exposure thereby endangering their lives (Krieg et al., 2010) Besides the urban dwellers, the most affected class emerges to be the workers within the manufacturing plants. The company’s regulatory framework provides for various policies and laws which regulate the treatment of the workforce within the companies. Such regulations provide for better protective garments and practices to avoid exposure of the workers to the chemicals or wastes from the companies. Studies show that some companies pay little regards to such requirements. Therefore, the lives of many people working within the companies suffer from the pollution and exposure to harmful substances (Lewis & Lewis, 2014). However, most of them lack a channel to publicly air third concerns and issues to the government or the local authorizes, this advocacy campaign, therefore, seeks to create public awareness regarding such ill practices by the companies. Furthermore, it aims to push the local authorities to ensure compliance with the policies and regulations which enforce better and safe working conditions within the plants (Spellman & Bieber, 2010). What the policy tries to influence Communication about health includes various strategies and ways of creating awareness and also addressing the particular concerns. Many people suffer from pollution concerns but lack proper avenues to present their concerns to the relevant groups or authorities. On the other hands, many authorities ignore the concerns presented to them by the advocacy groups or the affected individuals. The lukewarm status of the regulatory bodies, therefore, dictates a more desired need to push for the implementation of the desired effective policies. This policy, therefore, seeks to foster two major influences. The first objective of this campaign relates to the intention of creating public awareness regarding the threat of skin cancer from exposure to chemical pollutants. The exposure to chemicals makes a person susceptible to skin cancer which remains as one of the greatest health concerns of the modern times. The second objective of this campaign relates to the need of fostering a healthy environment, especially within the urban centers (Yarbro et al., 2011). Several cities face pollution issues due to the manner of operations of companies. Studies reveal that the regulating bodies, as well as the local, authorizes fail to ensure proper legislations and adherence to anti-pollution laws. A move to reduce pollution implies a congruency to reducing chances of skin cancer. Skin cancer proves as one of the major health concern fought among many city dwellers. Despite the existence of other causal agents, chemical exposure remains as a common cause. Therefore, the role of the local authorities remains significant in reducing the emission of chemicals which have the ability to predispose people to skin cancer. This campaign seeks to influence all stakeholders towards a conducive environment free from chemical exposure. In particular, the influence aims at having a healthy environment and a more conducive surrounding to stay. The recent increase in the health concern among many people working and living in the company’s form the basis for which this campaign seek to influence the operations of the local authorities. Ostensibly, the local authorities perform the role of monitoring and regulating the operations of companies and industries within the city. The policies implemented to control their wasteful emissions and pollution, therefore, rests on the specific responsibilities of the local authorities (Kwabi-Addo & Lindstrom, 2011). There exist several departments the local government which perform specific roles and objectives such as regulating the operations of the manufacturing companies. Lastly, this campaign attempts to influence the legislation process which regulates the manner of operations of companies and industries. Usually, the legislation stands out as a most reliable tool to foster change operations within a society. Through proper laws and regulatory framework, the players within the economy find proper legal directions to follow (Hawk & Evans, 2013). The laws and policies which govern the actions and activities of such companies remain as specific roles of the local authorities and the entire government. The legislative process, similarly, requires the input of the public who contribute by giving their opinions and observations to the legislative processes. Therefore, this campaign offers an opportunity for public concern to penetrate through the local government’s legislative processes. Also, it presents an opportunity to compel the authorities governing the city to ensure reducing of emission and pollutions perpetuated by companies within the city (Nouri, 2008). Target audience The target audience of an advocacy policy refers to the person, individuals, groups, organization or authorities intended to receive the concerns. These groups or individuals usually take up the responsibility of performing some tasks whose negligence cause harm and negative impacts to the society. The primary target audience of this advocacy campaign relates to the city dwellers as well as the local authorities. The residents of the city need to stay in greater awareness of possible exposition to skin cancer out of the increasing pollution from the surrounding companies. Besides, the local authorities mandated to regulate the operations of these companies need to foster much emphasis on elimination of chemical substances to the environment (Christoffel, 2000). This advocacy campaign addresses the health concerns of much city residence in conjunction with the failure of the responsibility of the local authorities. Many people continue to suffer from skin cancer as a result of pollution due to laxity on the companies and industries which contribute significantly to such harmful wastes and effluents. In fact, the inability of the local government to come up with strong regulatory measures continues to promote the culture of inefficient operations and activities of several companies within the city. Therefore, this advocacy campaign intends to wake the local administration of the city to take steps at ensuring that pollution remains a controlled and prevented menace within the city to avoid exposing the residents to poor living conditions (Dorfman et al., 2005). Methods of Communication The relevance of an advocacy campaign lies on the need to have an efficient means of communicating the concerns of the target audience. The primary communication method of this campaign relates to the use of mass media as desired ways to pass the information. One of the ways of using this method of communication refers to employing the use of social media platform to create public awareness (Eyler et al., 2016). The social media stands out as one of the cost-effective and accessible media platforms to relay information. Studies reveal that a greater percentage of many people across the world embrace this technological means to pass and receive information. Some of the social sites targeted by the campaign include the use of Twitter, Facebook, Twitter as well as running ads on the internet. The use of this communication strategy ensures that the information regarding awareness and also agitating the demands to the local government spread effectively to the public (Fertman &Allensworth, 2010). Besides the use of social media platforms, this campaign intends to rely on advertisements as a means of attracting public participation and awareness. The advertisement intended takes the shape of posters, fliers and creating sensitization seminars to promote public involvement. The goal intended by employing the use of such communication channels concerns the need capture public attention and opinions. Besides, it involves the desire to ensure that the local authorities accept the demands and plight of the citizens regarding the status of their health. The promotion of advocacy messages within the society serves the role of achieving the success of this advocacy campaign (Freudenberg, N. (2005). In fact, the stage at which the local authorities receive the quest within this campaign and act upon then forms the climax and success points of the concerns rose in the campaign Conclusion The process of achieving solutions to health related concerns orchestrated by avoidable circumstances requires a campaign intended to advocate for better health conditions. Skin cancer remains as one of the health problems, especially within the city set ups. Exposure to chemicals remains as one of the causes of this condition (Gomm et al., 2006). This advocacy campaign, therefore, sought to address the need by the local authorities to ensure the legislation and implementation of productive policies to curb pollution into the environment. The ultimate objective, therefore, concerns the achievement of a conducive and healthy environment to support livelihood and also to reduce chances of attracting skin cancer. References Christoffel, K. K. (2000). Public health advocacy: process and product. American Journal of Public Health, 90(5), 722. Dorfman, L., Wallack, L., & Woodruff, K. (2005). More than a message: Framing public health advocacy to change corporate practices. Health Education & Behavior, 32(3), 320-336. Eyler, A. A., Chriqui, J. F., Moreland-Russell, S., & Brownson, R. C. (2016).Prevention, policy, and public health. Fertman, C. I., &Allensworth, D. D. M. (2010). Health promotion programs: From theory to practice. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Freudenberg, N. (2005). Public health advocacy to change corporate practices: implications for health education practice and research. Health Education & Behavior, 32(3), 298-319. Gomm, M., Lincoln, P., Pikora, T., & Giles-Corti, B. (2006). Planning and implementing a community-based public health advocacy campaign: a transport case study from Australia. Health promotion international, 21(4), 284-292. Gupta, R. C. (2009). Handbook of toxicology of chemical warfare agents. London: Academic Press. Hawk, C., & Evans, W. (2013). Health promotion and wellness: An evidence-based guide to clinical preventive services. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Israel, B. A., Coombe, C. M., Cheezum, R. R., Schulz, A. J., McGranaghan, R. J., Lichtenstein, R., ... & Burris, A. (2010). Community-based participatory research: a capacity-building approach for policy advocacy aimed at eliminating health disparities. American Journal of Public Health,100(11), 2094-2102. Krieg, T., Bickers, D. R., & Miyachi, Y. (2010). Therapy of skin diseases: A worldwide perspective on therapeutic approaches and their molecular basis. Heidelberg: Springer. Kwabi-Addo, B., & Lindstrom, T. L. (2011). 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Cancer nursing: Principles and practice. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Read More