Health Promotion Posters - Essay Example

HEALTH PROMOTION Health promotion is an important activity, which gives people the much-needed information regarding proper health practices. Good health is important not just for people’s general welfare (Carter, 2012, p 3), but for the growth of economic activities in a country. When people are healthy, they participate actively in various activities that enhance economic growth and development. The government also reduces its expenditure on medical facilities and taking care of critical cases, something that can be used when people are aware of the way they need to take care of their health and general welfare. Health promotion is an activity that needs to be undertaken by everyone, this is because, health is a matter of social concern for everyone. There needs to be collaborative initiatives by all people so that objectives to achieve excellent health habits can be met. Health promotion can therefore be termed as a vital responsibility for the larger public (Livingstone, 2011, p, 4). In the recent past, health promotion has been institutionalized by nations across the world; there are very many agencies that have taken worthy initiatives to ensure that useful health habits are followed and implemented to the latter, Public health practitioners have been on the forefront for championing for the enactment of health policies that add impetus to effective health habits and practices. There are still many efforts being done by academicians and scholars to conduct research activities into how this useful action can be handled successfully by all people. An effective health practice refers to a dynamic harmonization of physical, emotional, social and intellectual practices that enhance health practices among peoples varying lifestyles. Changes in people’s lifestyles can be made possible through an effective combination of experiences that provide learning opportunities for awareness creation, motivation and at the same time, builds knowledge and skills for people to access environments, which promote positive health habits. Creating effective health promotional tools requires that people understand and work with the factors that determine effective and successful strategies. There are various factors, which have to be observed in the process of establishing effective health promotion campaigns and practices, these factors include; perceptions of potential risks and self, prevailing environmental conditions; which includes both physical and social as well as perceptions about cost factors and potential benefits. Failure to observe and work with these factors may lead to promotional practices that do not appeal to the people in targeted areas and the entire population as well. The concept of health, sickness and diseases is dynamic and changes from time to time, this may be perhaps due to the fact that there are different perceptions which the community has about culture and various religious beliefs and practices which in one way or another have a bearing in health practices (Bracht, 1990, p, 56). In some societies, the responsibility of the family’s primary care rests on women. In order to fulfill this responsibility, women are expected to make personal sacrifices to ensure that the health of everybody is well taken care of. Literacy, and health literacy to be specific largely influences practices which people engage in so as to make better health practices and choices (Parker &Gazmararian, 2003, p, 120).For this reason, effective health promotion should put into perspective the fact that there are different people who do not have sufficient literacy to understand important aspects of good better health practices. This means that the tools that will be employed to create this awareness should be designed in such a way that they are able to appeal to everybody in the community (Laverack, &Keshavarz, 2011, p, 260). It should be noted that health literacy is responsible for the diverse decisions, which people make in their day-to-day activities. An important thing to appreciate is the fact the advancement in technology continues to influence people’s awareness about the choices on proper health practices (Khubchandani, &Simmons 2012, p, 295). Currently many people across the world can be able to access information about health habits and the consequences resulting from practices, which are against proper health practice. It is important to point out that currently, health promotion practices have impacted health practices much to the positive. There are many achievements, whichcan be attributed to effective health promotion practices that have been prevailing (Rice, 2012, p, 315). These practices include numerous vaccinations that are evident in many parts of the world; there are various motor vehicle safety practices that have been enacted as policies to guide the transport sector. In addition the work place has also laid down important strategies that promote healthy practice. The food manufacturing industry has also not been left out, there are many policies and standards that have been reinforced to ensure that people consume products that are healthy to their bodies. There have been important campaigns against practices such as tobacco and use of drugs. For this reason the World Health organization has been vocal in advocating for drug free environments, so that people do not engage in drugs and related practices that affect their lives and those within the environment.In order to supplement these efforts, the government and other agencies ought to observe a framework for action, which will ensure that better health practices are observed by everybody without fault, (Schiavo, 2007, p, 67). Some of the important parameters that characterize an effective framework include; healthy public policies, here, ministries of health have important obligations to make sure they come up with ways of initiating and orchestrating various approaches that fully implement such policies and regulations. Similarly, there should be partnerships and alliances in effective health promotion (Moos, 2002, p, 74). This is important because, the issue of good health is a concern for everyone in the community, therefore, health promotion should not be left to promotion workers alone or health personnel. There should collaborative efforts by all the sectors of the society, some of the sectors include; policy makers, the private sector, academic and research institutions as well as community civic groups and non-governmental organizations. Another aspect is the influence of the relevant health infrastructure, the government and other agencies should be on the forefront to establish important infrastructure, which can facilitate health promotion practices. The insight that group work has provided is essential in knowing how to create an effective health promotion to fulfill the main objectives of helping people make reasonable health choices for their lives. It has been fun learning from contributions of other group members about alternative ways of how people can participate in this worthy course and not just leaving it for health care workers. People have a tendency of leaving such crucial issues to the government and other agencies to take care of, it should be understood that health practices are not just beneficial to the government and other agencies, but the number one beneficiary is the individual himself. For this reason, it is important to educate the public about health promotion including giving practical and efficient ways of how it can be achieved. It is important to point out the importance of this module towards ensuring a healthy nation. The lessons in this module and practical and relevant in articulating various health issues and how they are being tackled in the public. In fact, some students have resorted to holding discussion forums to deliberate on various ways of how they can join up their efforts to hold joint health promotion campaigns in different communities. This has been the central topic of discussion in many of the group activities that have been held, it is expected that there will be a formal framework of how to roll out an effective health promotion campaign. With time, the group expects to extend invitations to other people interested in promoting health practices. It is important to point out that an effective practice does notgo without challenges along its course (Nutbeam, 1998, p, 5). Health promotion has had a fresh share of challenges that have largely contributed to the drawbacks that have been witnessed. Some cultural practices among different communities have been major challenges in effective health promotion. Some communities still continue to hold retrogressive practices that are harmful to people, for instance, in some African communities, female circumcision is still given priority. This is despite the fact that it poses serious health implications to girls, however, it is important to appreciate the role that non-governmental organizations have been taking to educate people about this health practice. Other challenges being experienced include; the lack of a global approach to health promotion. This is largely brought about by the various policies and regulations exhibited in different countries. In addition, there is also an acute shortage of visionary leadership, which is responsive to the dynamic nature of health promotion. In future, when all this issues have been tackled, the society is bound to witness a health environment conducive for all. Bibliography Bracht, N, 1990. Health Promotion in the community Level, Sage Publication, Inc. Newbury Park, California Carter, S, M. 2012. What is health promotion ethics? Health Promot Journal.Vol, 23, No. 1:pp 1- 4. KhubchandaniJ,& Simmons R. 2012. Going Global: Building a Foundation for Global Health Promotion Research to Practice. Health PromotPract.Vol. 13. No. 2: pp, 293-297. Laverack G, &Keshavarz, M, N. 2011. What remains for the future: strengthening community actions to become an integral part of health promotion practice. Health Promot Int’lVol, 26. No. 2: pp, 258–262. Livingstone C.2011. Advocating for public health: does the real world matter? Health Promot Journal.Vol, 22, No. 6: pp, 4-5 Moos, M, K. 2002.Preconceptional Health Promotion: Opportunities Abound. Maternal Child Health Journal Vol, 6, No. 3: pp, 71-73 Nutbeam, D. 1998. Evaluating Health Promotion-Progress, Problems and solutions.Health Promot Int’lVol, 13, No, 9: pp, 27-44 Parker M &Gazmararian J. 2003.Health literacy: Essential for health communication.Journal of Health Commun.Vol, 1, No, 10: pp, 116-119. Rice, M, E. 2012. Effective Global Health Promotion Achievements, Tools, and Strategies Used in the Americas over the Past Decade. Health PromotPract.Vol, 13, No, 9: pp 313-319 Schiavo R. 2007.Health Communication – From theory to Practice;Jossey- Bass press, California. Read More