HEALTH PROMOTION

BY Mary Arday-Kotei
Deputy Director (PH)
I/C Health Promotion
 DEFINITION
• It is a systematic means of making it
possible for people to have control over
their own health and to take possible
action to increasingly improve upon their
health
 DEFINITION
• HP is primarily a process to address the
broad determinants of health. (various
factors that underlie health). These include
the physical environment, socio-cultural,
political, education and economic
conditions
 DEFINITION
• HP recognizes that the condition for good
health include peace, shelter, education,
food, income, social justice, and respect
for human rights.
• Poverty is considered one of the greatest
threats to health
 KEY AREAS IN HP
These are:
• Building a healthy public policy – placing issues
on the agenda of appropriate authorities

• Creating a supportive environment conducive to

change - eg. Providing facilities

• Strengthening community action – developing a

sense of ownership & active use of facilities
 KEY AREAS IN HP
• Developing personal skills – empowering
people with information and skills to
identify & address specific health
conditions
• Re-orienting health services – re-direct or
set programme to a form that would suit
the people
 PRINCIPLES OF HE/HP
• Every health problem has a behavioural
correlate
• HP is people centred
• It is multi sectoral in nature and therefore
accommodates many players
• It emphasizes partnership with people
 PRINCIPLES OF HE/HP
• It emphasizes putting in place
mechanisms for facilitating multi-sectoral
collaboration at all levels, therefore
encourages formation of networks and
alliances to enhance collaboration
• It is developed and implemented within the
broader context of health
 STRATEGIES FOR HEALTH
PROMOTION
• Empowering people with health
information and skills to enable them
achieve their full potential
• Mediating between different interests in
society in pursuit of health
• Advocacy to create the essential
conditions for health