Caribbean Charter For Health Promotion

Caribbean Charter forhealth promotion: where we are? what do we need to do? : Trinidad Perspective : 

Dr. Deryck D. Pattron, Ph.D. Public Health Safety & Environmental Consultant Caribbean Charter forhealth promotion: where we are? what do we need to do? : Trinidad Perspective

Historical Development : 

Historical Development 1978-Declaration on Health for the Caribbean Communities. 1986-Caribbean Cooperation in Health Initiative. 1993-Caribbean Conference of Health Promotion. 1993-Caribbean Charter for Health Promotion

Goals of the Caribbean Charter for Health Promotion : 

Goals of the Caribbean Charter for Health Promotion New approach to the promotion of the health that will strength and empower individuals and communities to control, improve and maintain physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being utilizing resources that are unique to the Caribbean people. Prevention and control of diseases that will support the productivity, creativity, spiritual fulfillment of the Caribbean people.

Opportunities for Health Promotion in the Caribbean Context : 

Opportunities for Health Promotion in the Caribbean Context Unique cultural practices Song. Dance. Dress. Sport. Social activities. Food. Education. Diverse cultural backgrounds. Religion. Beliefs. Values. Attitudes. Experiences. Skills. Institutions. Agencies NGOs

Strategies for Health Promotion as promulgated by the Caribbean Charter for Health Promotion : 

Strategies for Health Promotion as promulgated by the Caribbean Charter for Health Promotion Formulating healthy public policy. Reorienting health services. Empowering communities to achieve well-being. Creating supportive environments. Developing personal health skills. Building alliances especially with the media.

Formulating Healthy Policy : 

Formulating Healthy Policy This is a preconceived plan that guides action to achieve healthy outcomes. Use of seat belts. Use of breathalyzer. Development of smoke free space. Development of clean environment. Development of early vaccination for every child and adult. Pre-school and school availability and accessibility for every child. Proper nutrition for everyone.

Re-orienting Health Services : 

Re-orienting Health Services Making health care available and accessible to all. Decentralization of health care services into regional health care services in the form of regional health authorities. Social practitioners. Health care practitioners. District health visitors. Community health care practitioners.

Empowering Communities to Achieve Well-being : 

Empowering Communities to Achieve Well-being Education. Information. Advocate. Alternatives. Legislation.

Supportive Environments : 

Supportive Environments Community health centers. Health visitors. Health educators. Community outreach programmes. Church groups. Recreational programmes. Healthy School Programmes. Healthy Workplace Programmes. Home Wellness Programmes.

Developing Personal Health Skills : 

Developing Personal Health Skills Monitoring. Maintaining one-to-one contact. Motivation. Reward. Share success. Supportive environment. Practice of newly learned skills in a controlled environment. Training and further education.

Building Alliances with Media to promote the Health Message : 

Building Alliances with Media to promote the Health Message Printed. Newspapers. Newsletters. Flyers. Pamphlets. Posters. Booklets. Electronic. Television. Radio. Film. VCR. RCD. Internet.

Challenges of the Caribbean Charter for Health Promotion : 

Challenges of the Caribbean Charter for Health Promotion Human Resources. Infrastructure. Finances. Political will. Development policy. Rate of diffusion of the health message in different communities. Monitoring. Enforcement. Maintenance. Evaluation.

Where Are We Right Now? : 

Where Are We Right Now?

What Has To Be Done? : 

What Has To Be Done? Political will. Strategic allocation of resources. Development of a national health promotion policy. Integration of all health promotion policies into the overall policies of the Government as a measure of good governance in fulfilling the mandate for sustainable development. Expansion of health promotion settings to: School. Workplace. Recreational areas. Adolescent health. Dental health. Mental health. HIV/AIDS. Communicable diseases. Non-communicable diseases. Partnerships and alliances with people, communities, regions and countries.

References : 

References Caribbean Charter for Health Promotion. 1993. Port of Spain, Trinidad: PAHO and the Caribbean Cooperation in Health. Green, L and Raeburn, J.M. 1988. Health promotion. What is it? What will it become? Health Promotion. 3: 151-159. Milio, N. 1986. Promoting Health Through Public Policy. Ottawa: Canadian Public Health Association. PAHO. 1996. An Anthology. Washington, D.C.:PAHO. Petosa, R. 1984. An Emerging Opportunity for Health Education. Wellness. Tableman, B. 1985.A Community Model for Prevention Services. Prevention in Human Services. 87-99.