What are Health Promotion Foundations?

Health promotion is most effective working within a framework of respect for human rights and human dignity. In this framework health is not merely the absence of disease. Health is assessed as a measure of both physical and mental wellbeing.

The Ottawa Charter a key guiding document utilised by all Foundations, defines health promotion as:

“the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health. To reach a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, an individual or group must be able to identify and to realize aspirations, to satisfy needs, and to change or cope with the environment. Health is, therefore, seen as a resource for everyday life, not the objective of living. Health is a positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities. Therefore, health promotion is not just the responsibility of the health sector, but goes beyond healthy life-styles to well-being.”

Established Health Promotion Foundations are involved in a wide range of health promotion actives and use strategies as varied as social marketing, provision of health information and education to community the creation of environments and settings that are supportive of health. Health Promotion Foundations would have a mix of work targeting both individuals, and broader populations as well as work focusing on a range of settings including the workplace, sports, arts, community and health settings.

Ottawa Charter Link:
http://www.who.int/hpr/NPH/docs/ottawa_charter_hp.pdf