Content
Discussion
A Holistic
View of Health
Health promotion
adopts the definition adopted by the World Health Organization,
which defines health as:
"a
state of complete physical, mental and social well-being rather
than a mere absence of disease or infirmity.”
This definition
regards health as "a resource for
everyday life".
Health promotion
views health as a positive concept emphasizing social and personal
resources as well as physical capabilities (WHO,1984).
A Focus
on Participatory Approaches
Wherever possible,
health promotion practitioners address health issues by doing things
with people rather than doing things for them.
The use of participatory
approaches that enable people to take greater control over the conditions
affecting their health is perhaps the most important feature of
health promotion practice since it embodies key health
promotion values:
 empowerment
social justice and equity
inclusion
respect
Let’s take
a closer look at these values.
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For
more information about these values and the ways in which
they shape health promotion practice, please refer to
Module 7 in Part B, Health Promotion in Action.
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