Core Document - International Union for Health Promotion and ...

child abuse, child neglect, learning difficulties and other behavioural problems.
Programmes demonstrate possibilities for greater life satisfaction, increased sexual
satisfaction and optimal functioning in the psychological domain. Some
projects help people back to work more quickly after suffering the trauma of
unemployment; others can show benefits with fewer teenage pregnancies and
on the other hand, major reductions in pre-term deliveries.
5 Health promotion programmes can reach disenfranchised groups, helping to
increase their perception of risk-taking behaviour, and in some cases decrease the
use of illicit drugs. Work in schools can produce health gains in nutrition, safersex,
reductions in tobacco usage, and the evidence points to other gains such as
enhanced academic performance as a consequence of regular physical activity.
6 Other health impacts are detailed in the Evidence Book. What is clear, however,
and was widely agreed upon at the joint meetings, is the need for sustainability.
Health gains do not come quickly, whereas attempting to repair health damage
nearly always has to.
7 The debate acknowledged that fundamentally, health promotion is clinically safe
and ethically friendly.
8 It was also acknowledged that effective health promotion works on the
determinants of health i.e. the causes, and not just the effects. It is an interweave
of actions and reactions, but all focused on providing enhanced quality of life, and
the sustaining of human well-being as productive and contributive members of
society. People have a responsibility to choose better health options, but society
has a responsibility to help them do so with the provision of proper, timely and
well-targeted resources through well funded health promotion.
9 Evidence from around the world is mounting, and will continue to do
so, that health promotion needs to play an increasing part in the
public health policy mix. The health promoters were keen to point
out that not too much should be claimed; the health promotion
strategy was not the sole answer to major issues. Equally, however, after 20 years
experience, it deserved a higher priority than it has at present with governments
and decision makers.
10 Both sides recognised that regular monitoring of best-practice around
the world would be very helpful. It was widely encouraged.
Social Impacts
1 Health promoters have always strongly linked social inequalities with health
inequalities. Health is a fundamental human right and that concept is held onto
with firm determination. The evidence is available to indicate that poverty,
homelessness, joblessness, poor sanitation, and various social breakdowns,
including the family unit, are significant contributory factors to poor health. These
are all issues of political and social importance.
2 It was recognised that health promotion can play a part in tackling some of the
social crises in our societies. It has the potential to contribute to the reduction of
these inequalities, and amongst its many methods is the empowerment of people
and community groups. Health promotion is very supportive of local democracy
22 Bridging the Gap