Meaning OF Health Education
Health Education is concerned with promoting health as well as reducing behavior induced
diseases. In other words health education is concerned with establishing or inducing changes
in personal and groups attitudes and behavior that promote healthier living.
Seven Dimensions of Health and Wellness:
Wellness is the pursuit of continued growth and balance in the seven dimensions of wellness.
Many people think about "wellness" in terms of physical health only. The word invokes
thoughts of nutrition, exercise, weight management, blood pressure, etc. Wellness, however, is
much more than physical health. Wellness is a full integration of physical, mental and spiritual
well-being. It is a complex interaction that leads to quality of life.
Wellness is commonly viewed as having seven dimensions. Each dimension contributes to our
own sense of wellness or quality of life, and each affect and overlaps the others. At times one
may be more prominent than others, but neglect of any one dimension for any length of time
has adverse effects on overall health.
The Seven Dimensions of Health and Wellness
• Physical
• Emotional
• Intellectual
• Social
• Spiritual
• Environmental
• Occupational
Physical Dimension
Physical wellness encompasses a variety of healthy behaviours including adequate exercise,
proper nutrition and abstaining from harmful habits such as drug use and alcohol abuse. It
means learning about and identifying symptoms of disease, getting regular medical check-ups,
and protecting yourself from injuries and harm. Developing such healthy habits today will not
only add years to your life but will enhance the enjoyment and quality of those years.
Tips for optimal physical wellness:
• Exercise daily
• Get adequate rest
• Use seat belts, helmets, and other protective equipment
• Learn to recognize early signs of illness
• Eat a variety of healthy foods
• Control your meal portions
• Stop smoking and protect yourself against second-hand smoke
• Use alcohol in moderation, if at all
Emotional Dimension
Emotional wellness is a dynamic state that fluctuates frequently with your other six dimensions
of wellness. Being emotionally well is typically defined as possessing the ability to feel and
express human emotions such as happiness, sadness and anger. It means having the ability to
love and be loved and achieving a sense of fulfilment in life. Emotional wellness encompasses
optimism, self-esteem, self-acceptance and the ability to share feelings.
Tips for optimal emotional wellness:
• Tune-in to your thoughts and feelings
• Cultivate an optimistic attitude
• Seek and provide support
• Learn time management skills
• Practice stress management techniques
• Accept and forgive yourself
Intellectual Dimension
The intellectual dimension encourages creative, stimulating mental activities. Our minds need
to be continually inspired and exercised just as our bodies do. People who possess a high level
of intellectual wellness have an active mind and continue to learn. An intellectually well person
uses the resources available to expand one's knowledge and improve skills. Keeping up-to-date
on current events and participating in activities that arouse our minds are also important.
Tips and suggestions for optimal intellectual wellness include:
• Take a course or workshop
• Learn (or perfect) a foreign language
• Seek out people who challenge you intellectually
• Read
• Learn to appreciate art
Social Dimension
Social wellness refers to our ability to interact successfully in our global community and to live
up to the expectations and demands of our personal roles. This means learning good
communication skills, developing intimacy with others, and creating a support network of
friends and family members.
Social wellness includes showing respect for others and yourself. Contributing to your
community and to the world builds a sense of belonging.
Tips and suggestions for optimal social wellness include:
• Cultivate healthy relationships
• Get involved
• Contribute to your community
• Share your talents and skills
• Communicate your thoughts, feelings and ideas
Spiritual Dimension
Spiritual wellness involves possessing a set of guiding beliefs, principles, or values that help
give direction to one's life. It encompasses a high level of faith, hope and commitment to your
individual beliefs that provide a sense of meaning and purpose. It is willingness to seek
meaning and purpose in human existence, to question everything and to appreciate the things
which cannot be readily explained or understood.
A spiritually well person seeks harmony between what lies within as well as the forces outside.
Tips and suggestions for optimal spiritual wellness:
• Explore your spiritual core
• Spend time alone/meditate regularly
• Be inquisitive and curious
• Be fully present in everything you do
• Listen with your heart and live by your principles
• Allow yourself and those around you the freedom to be who they are
• See opportunities for growth in the challenge’s life brings you
Occupational Dimension
Occupational/Vocational wellness involves preparing and making use of your gifts, skills, and
talents in order to gain purpose, happiness, and enrichment in your life. The development of
occupational satisfaction and wellness is related to your attitude about your work. Achieving
optimal occupational wellness allows you to maintain a positive attitude and experience
satisfaction/pleasure in your employment. Occupational wellness means successfully
integrating a commitment to your occupation into a total lifestyle that is satisfying and
rewarding.
Tips and suggestions for optimal occupational wellness include:
• Explore a variety of career options
• Create a vision for your future
• Choose a career that suits your personality, interests and talents
• Be open to change and learn new skills
The determinants of health and wellbeing are the conditions in which people are
born, grow, live, work and age. These conditions determine a person's chances of
maintaining good health. They are sometimes referred to as 'the causes of the causes',
as it is recognised health is not simply about behaviour or exposure to risk, but how
social and economic structures shape the health of populations.
The figure below shows the layers of influence on people's health and wellbeing.
They may start with individual factors and extend to lifestyle and environment
factors, including social, cultural and economic factors.Factors beyond Australia's
boundaries also have a significant impact on our health and wellbeing. These include
the integration of the global economy, financial markets and trade, wide access to
media and communications technology and environmental degradation due to
irresponsible use of resources.
Climate change will have a major impact on the health and wellbeing of
populations into the future, especially vulnerable groups.
The social determinants of health
Social factors are important determinants of health because they create inequitable
differences in health outcomes. The World Health Organization has identified 10
social determinants of health:
• the social gradient
• stress
• early life
• social exclusion
• work
• unemployment
• social support
• addiction
• food
• transport.
✓ The first is that health is the absence of any disease or impairment.
✓ The second is that health is a state that allows the individual to adequately cope with
all demands of daily life (implying also the absence of disease and impairment).
✓ The third definition states that health is a state of balance, an equilibrium that an
individual has established within himself and between himself and his social and
physical environment.
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence
of disease or infirmity. WHO as adopted by the International Health Conference, New York,
19 June - 22 July 1946; signed on 22 July 1946 by the representatives of 61 States (Official
Records of WHO, no. 2, p. 100) and entered into force on 7 April 1948. The definition has not
been amended since 1948.
Wellness is the pursuit of continued growth and balance in the seven dimensions of wellness.
Many people think about "wellness" in terms of physical health only. The word invokes
thoughts of nutrition, exercise, weight management, blood pressure, etc. Wellness, however, is
much more than physical health. Wellness is a full integration of physical, mental and spiritual
well-being. It is a complex interaction that leads to quality of life.
Wellness is commonly viewed as having seven dimensions. Each dimension contributes to our
own sense of wellness or quality of life, and each affect and overlaps the others. At times one
may be more prominent than others, but neglect of any one dimension for any length of time
has adverse effects on overall health.
The Seven Dimensions of Health and Wellness
• Physical
• Emotional
• Intellectual
• Social
• Spiritual
• Environmental
• Occupational
Physical Dimension
Physical wellness encompasses a variety of healthy behaviours including adequate exercise,
proper nutrition and abstaining from harmful habits such as drug use and alcohol abuse. It
means learning about and identifying symptoms of disease, getting regular medical check-ups,
and protecting yourself from injuries and harm. Developing such healthy habits today will not
only add years to your life but will enhance the enjoyment and quality of those years.
Tips for optimal physical wellness:
• Exercise daily
• Get adequate rest
• Use seat belts, helmets, and other protective equipment
• Learn to recognize early signs of illness
• Eat a variety of healthy foods
• Control your meal portions
• Stop smoking and protect yourself against second-hand smoke
• Use alcohol in moderation, if at all
Emotional Dimension
Emotional wellness is a dynamic state that fluctuates frequently with your other six dimensions
of wellness. Being emotionally well is typically defined as possessing the ability to feel and
express human emotions such as happiness, sadness and anger. It means having the ability to
love and be loved and achieving a sense of fulfilment in life. Emotional wellness encompasses
optimism, self-esteem, self-acceptance and the ability to share feelings.
Tips for optimal emotional wellness:
• Tune-in to your thoughts and feelings
• Cultivate an optimistic attitude
• Seek and provide support
• Learn time management skills
• Practice stress management techniques
• Accept and forgive yourself
Intellectual Dimension
The intellectual dimension encourages creative, stimulating mental activities. Our minds need
to be continually inspired and exercised just as our bodies do. People who possess a high level
of intellectual wellness have an active mind and continue to learn. An intellectually well person
uses the resources available to expand one's knowledge and improve skills. Keeping up-to-date
on current events and participating in activities that arouse our minds are also important.
Tips and suggestions for optimal intellectual wellness include:
• Take a course or workshop
• Learn (or perfect) a foreign language
• Seek out people who challenge you intellectually
• Read
• Learn to appreciate art
Social Dimension
Social wellness refers to our ability to interact successfully in our global community and to live
up to the expectations and demands of our personal roles. This means learning good
communication skills, developing intimacy with others, and creating a support network of
friends and family members.
Social wellness includes showing respect for others and yourself. Contributing to your
community and to the world builds a sense of belonging.
Tips and suggestions for optimal social wellness include:
• Cultivate healthy relationships
• Get involved
• Contribute to your community
• Share your talents and skills
• Communicate your thoughts, feelings and ideas
Spiritual Dimension
Spiritual wellness involves possessing a set of guiding beliefs, principles, or values that help
give direction to one's life. It encompasses a high level of faith, hope and commitment to your
individual beliefs that provide a sense of meaning and purpose. It is willingness to seek
meaning and purpose in human existence, to question everything and to appreciate the things
which cannot be readily explained or understood.
A spiritually well person seeks harmony between what lies within as well as the forces outside.
Tips and suggestions for optimal spiritual wellness:
• Explore your spiritual core
• Spend time alone/meditate regularly
• Be inquisitive and curious
• Be fully present in everything you do
• Listen with your heart and live by your principles
• Allow yourself and those around you the freedom to be who they are
• See opportunities for growth in the challenge’s life brings you
Occupational Dimension
Occupational/Vocational wellness involves preparing and making use of your gifts, skills, and
talents in order to gain purpose, happiness, and enrichment in your life. The development of
occupational satisfaction and wellness is related to your attitude about your work. Achieving
optimal occupational wellness allows you to maintain a positive attitude and experience
satisfaction/pleasure in your employment. Occupational wellness means successfully
integrating a commitment to your occupation into a total lifestyle that is satisfying and
rewarding.
Tips and suggestions for optimal occupational wellness include:
• Explore a variety of career options
• Create a vision for your future
• Choose a career that suits your personality, interests and talents
• Be open to change and learn new skills
What is Positive Health?
According to Martin Seligman, director of the Positive Psychology Center at the University of
Pennsylvania, Positive Health encompasses the understanding that "people desire well-being in its
own right and they desire it above and beyond the relief of their suffering." It builds on Seligman's
advances in the field of Positive Psychology, which applies validated interventions to boost the
strengths and virtues that help individuals thrive emotionally in daily life.
From 2008-2015, with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Seligman and a team
of researchers conducted studies to help identify which specific health assets lead to lower disease
risk and longer, healthy life. These assets might range from biological factors such as heart rate
variability, to subjective or functional factors, such as optimism or a stable marriage.
Some Key Findings
• Men and women with high levels of negative emotion were more likely to die
prematurely than those with lower levels of negative emotion.
• People with higher life satisfaction are likely to be more optimistic, socially engaged,
and supported—and manage health problems better.
The below sampling of articles provides an initial body of analysis on the potential for personal
health strengths to provide a buffer against physical and mental illness and path to better overall
health. Additional research and resources are available on the Positive Health project website
According to Martin Seligman, director of the Positive Psychology Center at the University of
Pennsylvania, Positive Health encompasses the understanding that "people desire well-being in its
own right and they desire it above and beyond the relief of their suffering." It builds on Seligman's
advances in the field of Positive Psychology, which applies validated interventions to boost the
strengths and virtues that help individuals thrive emotionally in daily life.
From 2008-2015, with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Seligman and a team
of researchers conducted studies to help identify which specific health assets lead to lower disease
risk and longer, healthy life. These assets might range from biological factors such as heart rate
variability, to subjective or functional factors, such as optimism or a stable marriage.
Some Key Findings
• Men and women with high levels of negative emotion were more likely to die
prematurely than those with lower levels of negative emotion.
• People with higher life satisfaction are likely to be more optimistic, socially engaged,
and supported—and manage health problems better.
The below sampling of articles provides an initial body of analysis on the potential for personal
health strengths to provide a buffer against physical and mental illness and path to better overall
health. Additional research and resources are available on the Positive Health project website
Life Satisfaction and Frequency of Doctor Visits (Psychosomatic Medicine, 2013).
Whether healthy or ill, people with higher life satisfaction (sometimes called happiness)
visit the doctor less than those unhappy. Pursuing the link between positive psychological
factors and health care use may reveal innovative ways to contain health care costs.
• Perceived Neighborhood Social Cohesion and Stroke (Social Science & Medicine, 2013).
Perceived neighborhood social cohesion and physical health may play an important role in
protecting against stroke.
• Social Relations, Health Behaviors, and Health Outcomes (Applied Psychology: Health
and Well-Being, 2013). This paper summarizes current evidence on social relations and
health, specifically how social integration and social support are related to health behaviors
and health outcomes, using results from published reviews.
• Purpose in Life and Reduced Stroke in Older Adults (Journal of Psychosomatic Research,
2013). A higher rating of purpose in life was associated with a reduced likelihood of stroke
during this study’s four-year follow-up.
• A Prospective Study of Positive Early Life Psychosocial Factors and Favorable
Cardiovascular Risk in Adulthood (Circulation, 2013). Protecting and enhancing early life
psychosocial assets lay the foundation for adult cardiovascular health.
• Psychological Well-Being, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Long-Term Survival (American
Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2010). While low levels of negative emotion or high levels
of cardiorespiratory fitness are predictors of long-term survival in men and women, being
both fit and not unhappy provides a strong combined effect.
• A Prospective Study of Positive Psychological Well-Being and Coronary Heart
Disease (Health Psychology, 2013). Positive psychological well-being, desirable in itself,
may have far-reaching consequences for cardiovascular health.
• The Promise of Well-Being Interventions for Improving Health Risk Behaviors (Current
Cardiovascular Risk Reports, 2012). People who have positive psychological well-being
may be more likely to exercise, eat a healthy diet, and avoid smoking, all behaviors that
also reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease
Whether healthy or ill, people with higher life satisfaction (sometimes called happiness)
visit the doctor less than those unhappy. Pursuing the link between positive psychological
factors and health care use may reveal innovative ways to contain health care costs.
• Perceived Neighborhood Social Cohesion and Stroke (Social Science & Medicine, 2013).
Perceived neighborhood social cohesion and physical health may play an important role in
protecting against stroke.
• Social Relations, Health Behaviors, and Health Outcomes (Applied Psychology: Health
and Well-Being, 2013). This paper summarizes current evidence on social relations and
health, specifically how social integration and social support are related to health behaviors
and health outcomes, using results from published reviews.
• Purpose in Life and Reduced Stroke in Older Adults (Journal of Psychosomatic Research,
2013). A higher rating of purpose in life was associated with a reduced likelihood of stroke
during this study’s four-year follow-up.
• A Prospective Study of Positive Early Life Psychosocial Factors and Favorable
Cardiovascular Risk in Adulthood (Circulation, 2013). Protecting and enhancing early life
psychosocial assets lay the foundation for adult cardiovascular health.
• Psychological Well-Being, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Long-Term Survival (American
Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2010). While low levels of negative emotion or high levels
of cardiorespiratory fitness are predictors of long-term survival in men and women, being
both fit and not unhappy provides a strong combined effect.
• A Prospective Study of Positive Psychological Well-Being and Coronary Heart
Disease (Health Psychology, 2013). Positive psychological well-being, desirable in itself,
may have far-reaching consequences for cardiovascular health.
• The Promise of Well-Being Interventions for Improving Health Risk Behaviors (Current
Cardiovascular Risk Reports, 2012). People who have positive psychological well-being
may be more likely to exercise, eat a healthy diet, and avoid smoking, all behaviors that
also reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease
Determinants of health:
Determinants of health are the broad range of personal, social, economic and environmental
factors that determine individual and population health. The main determinants of health
include:
1. Income and social status
2. Employment and working conditions
3. Education and literacy
4. Childhood experiences
5. Physical environments
6. Social supports and coping skills
7. Healthy behaviours
8. Access to health services
9. Biology and genetic endowment
10. Gender
11. Culture
12. Race / Racism
Determinants of health are the broad range of personal, social, economic and environmental
factors that determine individual and population health. The main determinants of health
include:
1. Income and social status
2. Employment and working conditions
3. Education and literacy
4. Childhood experiences
5. Physical environments
6. Social supports and coping skills
7. Healthy behaviours
8. Access to health services
9. Biology and genetic endowment
10. Gender
11. Culture
12. Race / Racism
born, grow, live, work and age. These conditions determine a person's chances of
maintaining good health. They are sometimes referred to as 'the causes of the causes',
as it is recognised health is not simply about behaviour or exposure to risk, but how
social and economic structures shape the health of populations.
The figure below shows the layers of influence on people's health and wellbeing.
They may start with individual factors and extend to lifestyle and environment
factors, including social, cultural and economic factors.Factors beyond Australia's
boundaries also have a significant impact on our health and wellbeing. These include
the integration of the global economy, financial markets and trade, wide access to
media and communications technology and environmental degradation due to
irresponsible use of resources.
Climate change will have a major impact on the health and wellbeing of
populations into the future, especially vulnerable groups.
The social determinants of health
Social factors are important determinants of health because they create inequitable
differences in health outcomes. The World Health Organization has identified 10
social determinants of health:
• the social gradient
• stress
• early life
• social exclusion
• work
• unemployment
• social support
• addiction
• food
• transport.
Definition of Health
Today, three types of definition of health seem to be possible and are used.✓ The first is that health is the absence of any disease or impairment.
✓ The second is that health is a state that allows the individual to adequately cope with
all demands of daily life (implying also the absence of disease and impairment).
✓ The third definition states that health is a state of balance, an equilibrium that an
individual has established within himself and between himself and his social and
physical environment.
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence
of disease or infirmity. WHO as adopted by the International Health Conference, New York,
19 June - 22 July 1946; signed on 22 July 1946 by the representatives of 61 States (Official
Records of WHO, no. 2, p. 100) and entered into force on 7 April 1948. The definition has not
been amended since 1948.
In 1986, the WHO made further clarifications:
“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.”
“Wellness is the optimal state of health of individuals and groups. There are two focal concerns:
the realization of the fullest potential of an individual physically, psychologically, socially,
spiritually, and economically, and the fulfilment of one’s roles and expectations in the family,
community, place of worship, and other settings.”
“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.”
“Wellness is the optimal state of health of individuals and groups. There are two focal concerns:
the realization of the fullest potential of an individual physically, psychologically, socially,
spiritually, and economically, and the fulfilment of one’s roles and expectations in the family,
community, place of worship, and other settings.”
Dictionary meaning of Health….
1 a
: the condition of being sound in body, mind, or spirit. especially: freedom from physical
disease or pain
b: the general condition of the body
2 a
: a condition in which someone or something is thriving or doing well
b: general condition or state
3: a toast to someone's health or prosperity
1 a
: the condition of being sound in body, mind, or spirit. especially: freedom from physical
disease or pain
b: the general condition of the body
2 a
: a condition in which someone or something is thriving or doing well
b: general condition or state
3: a toast to someone's health or prosperity
Definitions of Health Education
Health education as the sum of experiences, which favorably influence habits attitudes and
knowledge relating o the individual community and social health.
-Thomas wood
Health education as the sum of experiences, which favorably influence habits attitudes and
knowledge relating o the individual community and social health.
-Thomas wood
Health education like general education is concerned with changes in knowledge, feelings and
behaviour of people. In its most usual form it concentrates on developing such health practices
as are believed to bring about the best possible state of well being.
–W.H.O technical Report (1954)
behaviour of people. In its most usual form it concentrates on developing such health practices
as are believed to bring about the best possible state of well being.
–W.H.O technical Report (1954)
Objectives of health Education
The following are the comprehensive list of functional objectives of health education
to be adopted in schools
1. To enable the students to develop a scientific point of view of health with reference to
traditional and modern concept of health.
2. To enable the students to identify health problems and understand their own role on
health and to medical agencies in meeting those problems
3. To enable the student to take interest in current events related to health
4. To enable the students to arrive at suitable conclusions based on scientific knowledge and
take action as an individual member of the family and community for protecting
maintaining and promoting individual and community health.
5. To enable the students to set an example of desirable health behaviour
6. To enable the student to understand the causes of the pollution of air water, soil and food
as well as their ways and means of prevention
7. To enable the students to gain sufficient knowledge of first aid
8. To provide desirable knowledge about marriage sex and family planning to the students
9. To help students to understand the importance of Physical training sports, games, yogic
exercises as well as their relationship with health education programme.
10. The emphasize students on the bad effects of smoking and taking alcohol etc
11. The acquaint students with the functioning of various organizations working for the
maintenance of health.
85
12. To help students understand how the present day rapid development of science and
technology as increased the hazards of life and health problems and also how to face and
prevent them.
The following are the comprehensive list of functional objectives of health education
to be adopted in schools
1. To enable the students to develop a scientific point of view of health with reference to
traditional and modern concept of health.
2. To enable the students to identify health problems and understand their own role on
health and to medical agencies in meeting those problems
3. To enable the student to take interest in current events related to health
4. To enable the students to arrive at suitable conclusions based on scientific knowledge and
take action as an individual member of the family and community for protecting
maintaining and promoting individual and community health.
5. To enable the students to set an example of desirable health behaviour
6. To enable the student to understand the causes of the pollution of air water, soil and food
as well as their ways and means of prevention
7. To enable the students to gain sufficient knowledge of first aid
8. To provide desirable knowledge about marriage sex and family planning to the students
9. To help students to understand the importance of Physical training sports, games, yogic
exercises as well as their relationship with health education programme.
10. The emphasize students on the bad effects of smoking and taking alcohol etc
11. The acquaint students with the functioning of various organizations working for the
maintenance of health.
85
12. To help students understand how the present day rapid development of science and
technology as increased the hazards of life and health problems and also how to face and
prevent them.
Importance of Health Education
“This atma is not attainable by a week man.” –Swami Vivekananda
“The first wealth is health.” – Emerson
If health is so precious asset then education of health is indeed, more important. Health education
helps us in following ways
1. Health education provides information to the students and the teachers about the function of
the body the rule of health and hygiene and precautionary measures for keeping of diseases.
2. Health education helps in discovering physical defects of children and discovering various
types of abnormalities of children
3. Health education develops health habits like need of fresh air, hygienic feeding and various
class room habits
4. Health education provided knowledge regarding good health habits
5. Health education develops better human relations between school home community
6. Health education provides knowledge regarding prevention and control of various diseases
7. Health education proving first aid training essential for everyone a emergency may come to
any one and at anytime.
“This atma is not attainable by a week man.” –Swami Vivekananda
“The first wealth is health.” – Emerson
If health is so precious asset then education of health is indeed, more important. Health education
helps us in following ways
1. Health education provides information to the students and the teachers about the function of
the body the rule of health and hygiene and precautionary measures for keeping of diseases.
2. Health education helps in discovering physical defects of children and discovering various
types of abnormalities of children
3. Health education develops health habits like need of fresh air, hygienic feeding and various
class room habits
4. Health education provided knowledge regarding good health habits
5. Health education develops better human relations between school home community
6. Health education provides knowledge regarding prevention and control of various diseases
7. Health education proving first aid training essential for everyone a emergency may come to
any one and at anytime.
Aims of Health Education
The following are the some of the main aims of health educationa. To provide information about health and its value as community asset – Health education
aims at acquainting the etchers with the rules of health and hygiene. Functioning of
Precautionary measures to ward off diseases and to provide good disease free working
conditions.
b. To maintain norms of good health: The authorities should provide hygienic environment
in the form of adequate ventilation proper temperature, good sanitation and all round
cleanliness. It helps the authorities to keep certain norms of health.
c. To take precautionary and preventive measures against communicable diseases. Its aim is
to take adequate precautions against contamination and spread of diseases. Thus good
sanitary arrangements are made. Precautionary and preventive measures. If they are
properly adopted can help in improving the health standards of society.
d. To render assistance to the school going children an understanding of the nature and
purpose of health services and facilities – It aims at discovering physical defects and other
abnormalities in the child and promoting their reduction if they are easily curable.
e. To develop and promote mental and emotional health – mental and emotional health are
also equally important along with physical health. While physically health makes a pupil
physically fit mental and emotional health enables him to maintain an even temper and a
happy disposition
f. To develop a sense of civic responsibility. School is a miniature society Responsibility of
skill health does not lie on any one’s shoulders. Even some cause of skill health has their
origin in social conditions which require action on the part of community as a whole in
84
order to eradicate them. It aims at realizing the people to make combined efforts and work
for community health.
MPCC-303 HEALTH EDUCATION AND SPORTS NUTRITION
2.3 THE MAJOIR INTERNATIONAL HEALTH ORGANISATIONS
Introduction
Almost the entire cost of health care in the developing world is borne by the developing
countries themselves. According to two separate estimates, aid from international health
organizations in the developed countries pays for less than 5% of the total health care
costs in the developing world. The estimates do not specify exactly what they include
as health aid, but they probably omit the value of food relief and other health-related
disaster relief, as well as money spent on water supply and sanitation projects, although
these activities have important health benefits. Nor do they seem to include the work
done in the home offices of international health organizations - e.g. the publication of
manuals for health care workers in developing countries, the development of model
health care systems, the strategic planning for campaigns against tropical diseases.
Finally these estimates omit the monetary value of the following: the labour of volunteer
health workers, research in tropical diseases done at medical institutions in the
industrialized countries, drug development for tropical diseases by major
pharmaceutical firms (e.g. the ivermectin, developed and manufactured by Merck & Co.
at a net loss), and the development of equipment by international companies for use in
poor countries (e.g. the development of low cost x-ray equipment by General Electric).
Even if all these items were counted, however, the total value of the aid from abroad
would still account for much less than 10% of the total health expenditures in the
developing world.
A large number of organizations of various sizes provide international health aid. The
exact roles played by these organizations can be bewildering at times, even to
professionals in this field. What follows is a description of the functions of the largest
international health organizations. After a look at the major organizations providing
long-term health care, the focus shifts to those that specialize in giving aid to victims of
war, famine and natural disasters.
Organizations Providing Long-term Health Care
Multilateral Agencies
International health organizations are usually divided into three groups: multilateral
organizations, bilateral organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
The term multilateral means that funding comes from multiple governments (as well as
from non-governmental sources) and is distributed to many different countries.
(2.3)
The World Health Organization (WHO) is the premier international health
organization. Technically it is an "intergovernmental agency related to the United
Nations." WHO and other such intergovernmental agencies are "separate, autonomous
organizations which, by special agreements, work with the UN and each other through
the coordinating machinery of the Economic and Social Council." According to its
constitution (1948) its principal goal is "the attainment by all peoples of the highest
possible level of health."
WHO has three main divisions. The governing body, the World Health Assembly, meets
once a year to approve the budget and decide on major matters of health policy. All the
190 or so member nations send delegations. The World Health Assembly elects 31
member nations to designate health experts for the Executive Board, which meets twice
a year and serves as the liaison between the Assembly and the Secretariat, which carries
on the day-to-day work of the WHO. The Secretariat has a staff of about 4,500 , with
30% of the employees at headquarters in Geneva, 30% in six regional field offices, and
40% in individual countries, either as country-wide WHO representatives or as
representatives of special WHO programs.
The principal work of WHO is directing and coordinating international health activities
and supplying technical assistance to countries. It develops norms and standards,
disseminates health information, promotes research, provides training in international
health, collects and analyzes epidemiologic data, and develops systems for monitoring
and evaluating health programs.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) serves as the regional field office
for WHO in the Americas and, since it predates WHO, carries on some additional
autonomous activities.
WHO has a biannual budget. Assessed contributions from the member nations constitute
the regular budget. In recent years voluntary ("extrabudgetary") contributions - from
governments and private philanthropies - have exceeded the regular budget. Donors may
earmark voluntary contributions for special programs; WHO allocates assessed
contributions.
The World Bank is the other major "intergovernmental agency related to the UN"
heavily involved in international health. The World Bank loans money to poor countries
on advantageous terms not available in commercial markets.
Three subsidiary agencies of the UN Economic and Social Council are heavily committed to international health programs.
The United Nation Children's Fund (UNICEF) spends the majority of its program
(non-administrative) budget on health care. UNICEF makes the world's most vulnerable
(2.3)
children its top priority, so it devotes most of its resources to the poorest countries and
to children younger than 5.
The United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) allocated $141 million, out of
a total budget for field expenditures of $1 billion, to "health, education, employment."
Its major health concerns are AIDS, maternal and child nutrition, and excessive maternal
mortality. In conjunction with WHO and the World Bank it sponsors the Special
Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR).
Bilateral Agencies
Bilateral agencies are governmental agencies in a single country which provide aid to
developing countries.
The largest of these is the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID). Most of the industrialized nations have a similar governmental agency.
Political and historical reasons often determine which countries receive donations from
bilateral agencies and how much they receive.
Non-governmental Organizations
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), also known as private voluntary
organizations (PVOs), provide approximately 20% of all external health aid to
developing countries. Most of these organizations are quite small; many are churchaffiliated.
The largest NGO devoted to international health in the United States is Project Hope,
with an annual budget exceeding $100 million. Worldwide, the most important NGO in
long-term international health is probably Oxfam, International. Founded in the United
Kingdom in 1943, it now has affiliates in 10 other countries, including the United States.
The World Food Programme (WFP) supplies food relief in disasters and coordinates
the activities of NGOs involved in food relief, as well as assisting them with
transportation and logistics. In 1994 it spent $874 million on relief. The WFP also
supports agricultural and rural development ($181 million), and education ($131
million).
UN organizations involved in relief work is the Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO). Like the World Bank and WHO it is technically an "intergovernmental agency
related to the UN." It helps developing countries prepare for famine through its Global
Information and Early Warning System and its Food Security Assistance Scheme, which
helps developing countries set up national food reserves. In disasters its principal role
is to assist in the re-establishment of agricultural production.
(2.3)
Non-Governmental Organizations
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the largest and most
prestigious of the world's humanitarian NGOs. It has three components: the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC); the International Federation of Red
Cross and Red Crescent Societies; the 160 or so individual national Red Cross societies,
e.g. the American Red Cross. The seven fundamental principles of the Movement are:
humanity; impartiality; neutrality; independence, i.e. autonomy vis-Ã -vis national
governments; voluntary service; unity, i.e. for each country only one national Society,
open to all and serving the entire country; universality.
The ICRC is a Swiss organization, founded in 1863 and mandated by the Geneva
Conventions to protect and assist prisoners of war and civilians in international armed
conflicts.
Like the Red Cross, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) provides health aid to victims
of war and natural disasters. Unlike the Red Cross, MSF is willing to enter war-torn
areas without the permission of authorities. Another difference between the two
organizations is that MSF, although its charter includes the same principles of
impartiality and neutrality followed by the Red Cross, considers one of its functions to
be speaking out on human rights abuses. Usually this speaking out consists of drawing
attention to cases of human rights violations that MSF considers under-reported, but on
occasions MSF will take a strong stand and denounce egregious violations. Such
denunciation can render the humanitarian work of MSF more difficult and dangerous.
Founded in 1971 in France, MSF now has six operational centres.
CARE USA is best known for providing food relief in the form of "care-packages." In
disasters, CARE has special expertise in transportation of supplies and logistics. Since
1980 affiliated CARE agencies have been established in 10 countries, leading to the
creation of CARE International, headquartered in Brussels.
Like CARE, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) specializes in providing food relief. In
1994, one half of its $300 million in revenue was in the form of food and ocean freight.
It spent $132 million on disaster relief, $85 million on development assistance, $61
million on general welfare, and $14 million on refugee relief and resettlement. CRS
works closely with Caritas, the international organization of Catholic charities.
Introduction
Almost the entire cost of health care in the developing world is borne by the developing
countries themselves. According to two separate estimates, aid from international health
organizations in the developed countries pays for less than 5% of the total health care
costs in the developing world. The estimates do not specify exactly what they include
as health aid, but they probably omit the value of food relief and other health-related
disaster relief, as well as money spent on water supply and sanitation projects, although
these activities have important health benefits. Nor do they seem to include the work
done in the home offices of international health organizations - e.g. the publication of
manuals for health care workers in developing countries, the development of model
health care systems, the strategic planning for campaigns against tropical diseases.
Finally these estimates omit the monetary value of the following: the labour of volunteer
health workers, research in tropical diseases done at medical institutions in the
industrialized countries, drug development for tropical diseases by major
pharmaceutical firms (e.g. the ivermectin, developed and manufactured by Merck & Co.
at a net loss), and the development of equipment by international companies for use in
poor countries (e.g. the development of low cost x-ray equipment by General Electric).
Even if all these items were counted, however, the total value of the aid from abroad
would still account for much less than 10% of the total health expenditures in the
developing world.
A large number of organizations of various sizes provide international health aid. The
exact roles played by these organizations can be bewildering at times, even to
professionals in this field. What follows is a description of the functions of the largest
international health organizations. After a look at the major organizations providing
long-term health care, the focus shifts to those that specialize in giving aid to victims of
war, famine and natural disasters.
Organizations Providing Long-term Health Care
Multilateral Agencies
International health organizations are usually divided into three groups: multilateral
organizations, bilateral organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
The term multilateral means that funding comes from multiple governments (as well as
from non-governmental sources) and is distributed to many different countries.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is the premier international health
organization. Technically it is an "intergovernmental agency related to the United
Nations." WHO and other such intergovernmental agencies are "separate, autonomous
organizations which, by special agreements, work with the UN and each other through
the coordinating machinery of the Economic and Social Council." According to its
constitution (1948) its principal goal is "the attainment by all peoples of the highest
possible level of health."
WHO has three main divisions. The governing body, the World Health Assembly, meets
once a year to approve the budget and decide on major matters of health policy. All the
190 or so member nations send delegations. The World Health Assembly elects 31
member nations to designate health experts for the Executive Board, which meets twice
a year and serves as the liaison between the Assembly and the Secretariat, which carries
on the day-to-day work of the WHO. The Secretariat has a staff of about 4,500 , with
30% of the employees at headquarters in Geneva, 30% in six regional field offices, and
40% in individual countries, either as country-wide WHO representatives or as
representatives of special WHO programs.
The principal work of WHO is directing and coordinating international health activities
and supplying technical assistance to countries. It develops norms and standards,
disseminates health information, promotes research, provides training in international
health, collects and analyzes epidemiologic data, and develops systems for monitoring
and evaluating health programs.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) serves as the regional field office
for WHO in the Americas and, since it predates WHO, carries on some additional
autonomous activities.
WHO has a biannual budget. Assessed contributions from the member nations constitute
the regular budget. In recent years voluntary ("extrabudgetary") contributions - from
governments and private philanthropies - have exceeded the regular budget. Donors may
earmark voluntary contributions for special programs; WHO allocates assessed
contributions.
The World Bank is the other major "intergovernmental agency related to the UN"
heavily involved in international health. The World Bank loans money to poor countries
on advantageous terms not available in commercial markets.
Three subsidiary agencies of the UN Economic and Social Council are heavily
committed to international health programs.
The United Nation Children's Fund (UNICEF) spends the majority of its program
(non-administrative) budget on health care. UNICEF makes the world's most vulnerable
children its top priority, so it devotes most of its resources to the poorest countries and
to children younger than 5.
The United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) allocated $141 million, out of
a total budget for field expenditures of $1 billion, to "health, education, employment."
Its major health concerns are AIDS, maternal and child nutrition, and excessive maternal
mortality. In conjunction with WHO and the World Bank it sponsors the Special
Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR).
Bilateral Agencies
Bilateral agencies are governmental agencies in a single country which provide aid to
developing countries.
The largest of these is the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID). Most of the industrialized nations have a similar governmental agency.
Political and historical reasons often determine which countries receive donations from
bilateral agencies and how much they receive.
Non-governmental Organizations
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), also known as private voluntary
organizations (PVOs), provide approximately 20% of all external health aid to
developing countries. Most of these organizations are quite small; many are churchaffiliated.
The largest NGO devoted to international health in the United States is Project Hope,
with an annual budget exceeding $100 million. Worldwide, the most important NGO in
long-term international health is probably Oxfam, International. Founded in the United
Kingdom in 1943, it now has affiliates in 10 other countries, including the United States.
The World Food Programme (WFP) supplies food relief in disasters and coordinates
the activities of NGOs involved in food relief, as well as assisting them with
transportation and logistics. In 1994 it spent $874 million on relief. The WFP also
supports agricultural and rural development ($181 million), and education ($131
million).
UN organizations involved in relief work is the Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO). Like the World Bank and WHO it is technically an "intergovernmental agency
related to the UN." It helps developing countries prepare for famine through its Global
Information and Early Warning System and its Food Security Assistance Scheme, which
helps developing countries set up national food reserves. In disasters its principal role
is to assist in the re-establishment of agricultural production.
Non-Governmental Organizations
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the largest and most
prestigious of the world's humanitarian NGOs. It has three components: the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC); the International Federation of Red
Cross and Red Crescent Societies; the 160 or so individual national Red Cross societies,
e.g. the American Red Cross. The seven fundamental principles of the Movement are:
humanity; impartiality; neutrality; independence, i.e. autonomy vis-Ã -vis national
governments; voluntary service; unity, i.e. for each country only one national Society,
open to all and serving the entire country; universality.
The ICRC is a Swiss organization, founded in 1863 and mandated by the Geneva
Conventions to protect and assist prisoners of war and civilians in international armed
conflicts.
Like the Red Cross, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) provides health aid to victims
of war and natural disasters. Unlike the Red Cross, MSF is willing to enter war-torn
areas without the permission of authorities. Another difference between the two
organizations is that MSF, although its charter includes the same principles of
impartiality and neutrality followed by the Red Cross, considers one of its functions to
be speaking out on human rights abuses. Usually this speaking out consists of drawing
attention to cases of human rights violations that MSF considers under-reported, but on
occasions MSF will take a strong stand and denounce egregious violations. Such
denunciation can render the humanitarian work of MSF more difficult and dangerous.
Founded in 1971 in France, MSF now has six operational centres.
CARE USA is best known for providing food relief in the form of "care-packages." In
disasters, CARE has special expertise in transportation of supplies and logistics. Since
1980 affiliated CARE agencies have been established in 10 countries, leading to the
creation of CARE International, headquartered in Brussels.
Like CARE, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) specializes in providing food relief. In
1994, one half of its $300 million in revenue was in the form of food and ocean freight.
It spent $132 million on disaster relief, $85 million on development assistance, $61
million on general welfare, and $14 million on refugee relief and resettlement. CRS
works closely with Caritas, the international organization of Catholic charities.
Almost the entire cost of health care in the developing world is borne by the developing
countries themselves. According to two separate estimates, aid from international health
organizations in the developed countries pays for less than 5% of the total health care
costs in the developing world. The estimates do not specify exactly what they include
as health aid, but they probably omit the value of food relief and other health-related
disaster relief, as well as money spent on water supply and sanitation projects, although
these activities have important health benefits. Nor do they seem to include the work
done in the home offices of international health organizations - e.g. the publication of
manuals for health care workers in developing countries, the development of model
health care systems, the strategic planning for campaigns against tropical diseases.
Finally these estimates omit the monetary value of the following: the labour of volunteer
health workers, research in tropical diseases done at medical institutions in the
industrialized countries, drug development for tropical diseases by major
pharmaceutical firms (e.g. the ivermectin, developed and manufactured by Merck & Co.
at a net loss), and the development of equipment by international companies for use in
poor countries (e.g. the development of low cost x-ray equipment by General Electric).
Even if all these items were counted, however, the total value of the aid from abroad
would still account for much less than 10% of the total health expenditures in the
developing world.
A large number of organizations of various sizes provide international health aid. The
exact roles played by these organizations can be bewildering at times, even to
professionals in this field. What follows is a description of the functions of the largest
international health organizations. After a look at the major organizations providing
long-term health care, the focus shifts to those that specialize in giving aid to victims of
war, famine and natural disasters.
Organizations Providing Long-term Health Care
Multilateral Agencies
International health organizations are usually divided into three groups: multilateral
organizations, bilateral organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
The term multilateral means that funding comes from multiple governments (as well as
from non-governmental sources) and is distributed to many different countries.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is the premier international health
organization. Technically it is an "intergovernmental agency related to the United
Nations." WHO and other such intergovernmental agencies are "separate, autonomous
organizations which, by special agreements, work with the UN and each other through
the coordinating machinery of the Economic and Social Council." According to its
constitution (1948) its principal goal is "the attainment by all peoples of the highest
possible level of health."
WHO has three main divisions. The governing body, the World Health Assembly, meets
once a year to approve the budget and decide on major matters of health policy. All the
190 or so member nations send delegations. The World Health Assembly elects 31
member nations to designate health experts for the Executive Board, which meets twice
a year and serves as the liaison between the Assembly and the Secretariat, which carries
on the day-to-day work of the WHO. The Secretariat has a staff of about 4,500 , with
30% of the employees at headquarters in Geneva, 30% in six regional field offices, and
40% in individual countries, either as country-wide WHO representatives or as
representatives of special WHO programs.
The principal work of WHO is directing and coordinating international health activities
and supplying technical assistance to countries. It develops norms and standards,
disseminates health information, promotes research, provides training in international
health, collects and analyzes epidemiologic data, and develops systems for monitoring
and evaluating health programs.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) serves as the regional field office
for WHO in the Americas and, since it predates WHO, carries on some additional
autonomous activities.
WHO has a biannual budget. Assessed contributions from the member nations constitute
the regular budget. In recent years voluntary ("extrabudgetary") contributions - from
governments and private philanthropies - have exceeded the regular budget. Donors may
earmark voluntary contributions for special programs; WHO allocates assessed
contributions.
The World Bank is the other major "intergovernmental agency related to the UN"
heavily involved in international health. The World Bank loans money to poor countries
on advantageous terms not available in commercial markets.
Three subsidiary agencies of the UN Economic and Social Council are heavily
committed to international health programs.
The United Nation Children's Fund (UNICEF) spends the majority of its program
(non-administrative) budget on health care. UNICEF makes the world's most vulnerable
children its top priority, so it devotes most of its resources to the poorest countries and
to children younger than 5.
The United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) allocated $141 million, out of
a total budget for field expenditures of $1 billion, to "health, education, employment."
Its major health concerns are AIDS, maternal and child nutrition, and excessive maternal
mortality. In conjunction with WHO and the World Bank it sponsors the Special
Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR).
Bilateral Agencies
Bilateral agencies are governmental agencies in a single country which provide aid to
developing countries.
The largest of these is the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID). Most of the industrialized nations have a similar governmental agency.
Political and historical reasons often determine which countries receive donations from
bilateral agencies and how much they receive.
Non-governmental Organizations
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), also known as private voluntary
organizations (PVOs), provide approximately 20% of all external health aid to
developing countries. Most of these organizations are quite small; many are churchaffiliated.
The largest NGO devoted to international health in the United States is Project Hope,
with an annual budget exceeding $100 million. Worldwide, the most important NGO in
long-term international health is probably Oxfam, International. Founded in the United
Kingdom in 1943, it now has affiliates in 10 other countries, including the United States.
The World Food Programme (WFP) supplies food relief in disasters and coordinates
the activities of NGOs involved in food relief, as well as assisting them with
transportation and logistics. In 1994 it spent $874 million on relief. The WFP also
supports agricultural and rural development ($181 million), and education ($131
million).
UN organizations involved in relief work is the Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO). Like the World Bank and WHO it is technically an "intergovernmental agency
related to the UN." It helps developing countries prepare for famine through its Global
Information and Early Warning System and its Food Security Assistance Scheme, which
helps developing countries set up national food reserves. In disasters its principal role
is to assist in the re-establishment of agricultural production.
Non-Governmental Organizations
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the largest and most
prestigious of the world's humanitarian NGOs. It has three components: the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC); the International Federation of Red
Cross and Red Crescent Societies; the 160 or so individual national Red Cross societies,
e.g. the American Red Cross. The seven fundamental principles of the Movement are:
humanity; impartiality; neutrality; independence, i.e. autonomy vis-Ã -vis national
governments; voluntary service; unity, i.e. for each country only one national Society,
open to all and serving the entire country; universality.
The ICRC is a Swiss organization, founded in 1863 and mandated by the Geneva
Conventions to protect and assist prisoners of war and civilians in international armed
conflicts.
Like the Red Cross, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) provides health aid to victims
of war and natural disasters. Unlike the Red Cross, MSF is willing to enter war-torn
areas without the permission of authorities. Another difference between the two
organizations is that MSF, although its charter includes the same principles of
impartiality and neutrality followed by the Red Cross, considers one of its functions to
be speaking out on human rights abuses. Usually this speaking out consists of drawing
attention to cases of human rights violations that MSF considers under-reported, but on
occasions MSF will take a strong stand and denounce egregious violations. Such
denunciation can render the humanitarian work of MSF more difficult and dangerous.
Founded in 1971 in France, MSF now has six operational centres.
CARE USA is best known for providing food relief in the form of "care-packages." In
disasters, CARE has special expertise in transportation of supplies and logistics. Since
1980 affiliated CARE agencies have been established in 10 countries, leading to the
creation of CARE International, headquartered in Brussels.
Like CARE, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) specializes in providing food relief. In
1994, one half of its $300 million in revenue was in the form of food and ocean freight.
It spent $132 million on disaster relief, $85 million on development assistance, $61
million on general welfare, and $14 million on refugee relief and resettlement. CRS
works closely with Caritas, the international organization of Catholic charities.
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