Healthy Communities

Nov 3, 2002 by

Definition

Positive health is believed to be achieved, at least in part, by the ability of individuals to be able to predict, control, and participate in the environment they exist within.

The process of creating a healthy community provides people and organisations with the opportunity to do just this.

A healthy community is one that:

  • Continually creates and improves the physical and social environments it exists within
  • Expands those community resources that enable people to mutually support each other in performing all the functions of life, and
  • Encourages individuals to take responsibility for their won health and well-being and that of their community and environment.

The Movement

The Healthy Communities Movement established in the early 1980′s by the World Health Organisation encourages the formation of multisectoral partnerships between local government agencies, and individual community members.

These partnerships draw upon the existing resource base in the community in order to identify and prioritise local health related needs and issues, and plan, implement and evaluate methods and strategies designed to improve the health of the community at large.

Guiding Principles

The guiding principles of the Healthy Communities Movement are:

  • Wide community participation
  • Broad definition of health, taking into consideration all the determinants of health
  • Intersectoral participation
  • Local government commitment
  • Healthy public policy

Healthy Community/City projects exist around the world. Each one unique in how they have interpreted and applied the principles