Promoting health: A powerful tool for global health

Today, health promotion is really important. Health and social wellbeing are determined by a variety of factors outside the health system, such as socioeconomic conditions, patterns of communication and food consumption, demographic trends, family dynamics, learning environments, and the cultural and social fabric of societies. These factors also include sociopolitical and economic changes, such as those related to trade and commercialization, as well as environmental changes on a global scale. Health issues in such a situation can be effectively addressed by taking a holistic approach that encourages leadership for public health, empowers individuals and communities to take charge of their own health, encourages intersectoral action to build healthy public policies in all sectors, and fosters the development of sustainable health systems. Although not a novel idea, the Alma Ata proclamation gave health promotion a boost. It has recently developed as a result of a number of international conferences, the first of which was held in Canada and resulted in the creation of the renowned Ottawa charter. Specific health issues may be the focus of efforts to promote health, which also include measures at the individual and community levels, strengthening of the health system, and multispectral partnerships. In order to improve health in certain environments like schools, hospitals, workplaces, residential neighborhoods, etc., it should also contain a settings-based strategy. All policies must incorporate health promotion, which, when used effectively, will produce favorable health results.