Health Promotion for Early Years Practitioners Essay

Health Promotion for Early Years Practitioners - Essay Example ..It is a positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources as well as physical capabilities (Health Promotion glossary, WHO, 1998). In the 1948 Constitution, WHO further declares that enjoying good health is the basic fundamental right of an individual, and the state must necessarily take measures to fulfil its obligation to this end. In context to child health WHO points out that â€Å"Healthy development of the child is of basic importance†, as good health during the formative years forms the foundation for a healthy adulthood. The state must make available to all its citizens the basic resources for medical, psychological well being and all relevant information that aims to achieve good health; and here there must not be any distinctions, based on â€Å"race, religion, political belief, economic, or social condition.† However in this context it must be mentioned that health is not only an obligation solely on the state; but there must also be an active coop eration and informed opinion based feedback from the general public that would help the state to function even more effectively. â€Å"Health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve their health† (Health Promotion glossary, WHO, 1998). Health promotion is an ongoing process that reflects the social and political conditions pertinent to health conditions within a country. Promotions are not only aimed at improving individual health but are directed towards transforming the entire social-economic and the physical environmental conditions, so that is an overall improvement in the life qualities of the society as a whole. There are various socioeconomic factors of health, based on the economic and social conditions of different countries. WHO delineates the general factors that are necessary for achieving good health and these are: sufficient economic resources, adequate food and shelter, stable eco-system, sustainable natural resource s and their appropriate use., and in the process highlights the important yet complex links that exist between an individual’s socio-economic conditions, his physical environment, his lifestyle, and his health. A UK team of researchers identified the socioeconomic factors of health as: social/class gradient, social support, social exclusion, early life, work, joblessness, stress, food, transport, and addiction (Marmot and  Wilkinson, 2005). On the other hand, we find that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  identifies socioeconomic factors of health as, social status, housing, transport, easy access to various services, bias on the basis of gender/ race/ or social standing, and various stressors (environmental or social) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010). Models and approaches to health promotion: There are various models and approaches to the health promotion plans seen in different countries worldwide. Such variations are owing to the var ying socioeconomic factors that are seen worldwide that makes it necessary for each country to adopt a health promotion plan that is made suitable for its social, cultural and economic conditions. In this context we will examine some of the well known approaches to health promotions, commonly seen in practice worldwide. In the Ottawa Charter WHO identifies three basic approaches