Community action for health: Community action for health refers to collective efforts by communities which are directed towards increasing community control over the determinants of health, and thereby improving health. Reference: new definition The Ottawa Charter emphasises the importance of concrete and effective community action in setting priorities for health, making decisions, planning strategies and implementing them… Read More

Alliance: An alliance for health promotion is a partnership between two or more parties that pursue a set of agreed upon goals in health promotion. Reference: new definition Alliance building will often involve some form of mediation between the different partners in the definition of goals and ethical ground rules, joint action areas, and agreement on the form of… Read More

Advocacy for health: A combination of individual and social actions designed to gain political commitment, policy support, social acceptance and systems support for a particular health goal or programme. Reference: Report of the Inter-Agency Meeting on Advocacy Strategies for Health and Development: Development Communication in Action. WHO, Geneva, 1995 Such action may be taken by… Read More

Health education: Health education comprises consciously constructed opportunities for learning involving some form of communication designed to improve health literacy, including improving knowledge, and developing life skills which are conducive to individual and community health. Reference: modified definition Health education is not only concerned with the communication of information, but also with fostering the motivation, skills and… Read More

Disease prevention: Disease prevention covers measures not only to prevent the occurrence of disease, such as risk factor reduction, but also to arrest its progress and reduce its consequences once established. Reference: adapted from Glossary of Terms used in Health for All series. WHO, Geneva, 1984 Primary prevention is directed towards preventing the initial occurrence of… Read More

Primary health care: Primary health care is essential health care made accessible at a cost a country and community can afford, with methods that are practical, scientifically sound and socially acceptable. Reference: Alma Ata Declaration, WHO, Geneva, 1978 The Alma-Ata Declaration, also emphasises that everyone should have access to primary health care, and everyone should… Read More

Public health: The science and art of promoting health, preventing disease, and prolonging life through the organized efforts of society. Reference: adapted from the “Acheson Report”, London, 1988 Public health is a social and political concept aimed at the improving health, prolonging life and improving the quality of life among whole populations through health promotion, disease… Read More

Health for All: The attainment by all the people of the world of a level of health that will permit them to lead a socially and economically productive life. Reference: Glossary of Terms used in Health for All series. WHO, Geneva,1984 Health for All has served as an important focal point for health strategy for… Read More

Health promotion:  Health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve their health. Reference: Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. WHO, Geneva,1986 Health promotion represents a comprehensive social and political process, it not only embraces actions directed at strengthening the skills and capabilities of individuals, but also action directed towards… Read More

Health: Health is defined in the WHO constitution of 1948 as: A state of complete physical, social and mental well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Within the context of health promotion, health has been considered less as an abstract state and more as a means to an end which can be expressed… Read More