HEALTH PROMOTION

Health promotion

This page provides links to descriptions of activities, reports, news and events, as well as contacts and cooperating partners in the various WHO programmes and offices working on this topic. Also shown are links to related web sites and topics.

MeSH scope note: Encouraging consumer behaviors most likely to optimize health potentials (physical and psychosocial) through health information, preventive programs, and access to medical care.

RELATED SITES

- Health promotion

- Chronic diseases and health promotion

- Health promotion (African Region)

- Move for health

- Health promotion (Western Pacific Region)

- School health and youth health promotion

RELATED LINKS

- Health promotion (European Region)

Promoting health

Health promotion strategies are not limited to a specific health problem, nor to a specific set of behaviours. WHO as a whole applies the principles of, and strategies for, health promotion to a variety of population groups, risk factors, diseases, and in various settings. Health promotion, and the associated efforts put into education, community development, policy, legislation and regulation, are equally valid for prevention of communicable diseases, injury and violence, and mental problems, as they are for prevention of noncommunicable diseases.

Highlights of our work

Bangkok Charter for Health Promotion
The 'Bangkok Charter for Health Promotion in a globalized world' has been agreed to by participants at the 6th Global Conference on Health Promotion held in Thailand from 7-11 August, 2005. It identifies major challenges, actions and commitments needed to address the determinants of health in a globalized world by reaching out to people, groups and organizations that are critical to the achievement of health.
Read the charter | Press release | About the conference

OUR UNITS National and community programmes Our objective is to co-operate with Member States in strengthening their capacity, policies, financial support and evidence for health promotion with emphasis on sound evidence-based strategies and approached, well planned, implementation and evaluation. More information School health and youth health promotion Many of today's and tomorrow's leading causes of death, disease and disability can be significantly reduced by preventing behaviour that is initiated during youth and fostered by social and political policies and conditions. More information Oral health The objectives of the Oral Health Programme have been reoriented according to the new strategy of disease prevention and promotion of health. More information

LINKS Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health Cluster (NMH) Department of Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion (CHP) Health promotion is a key activity within thi