Health for today's youth, hope for tomorrow's world
Levin, L.S.
World Health Forum 10(2) 151-157; Discussion: 157-168
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0251-2432 PMID: 2610827 Document Number: 264690
The 1986 Ottawa Charter on Health Promotion (based on Alma-Ata Declaration on Primary Health Care, the WHO targets for health for all and the World Health Assembly's commitment to intersectorial action) offers 5 essential components that create the framework to provide youth with good health: 1) building sound policies; 2) creating supportive environments; 3) strengthening community action; 4) developing personal skills; and 5) reorienting health services. Public policies need to be adjusted to create wider options for youth in such areas as employment, education and health care. But youth need to organize themselves so that their views are expressed locally through the media, but broadcast nationally. Community developers, both voluntary and governmental should provide resources to youth groups to give them a sense of ownership leading to improvement in the quality of community life. This article stresses the rights of young people to find productive roles in society; a 1st step in this direction is their operational participation in matters of education, employment, health and recreation. Strategies aimed at strengthening young people's involvement in social structures should be complemented by development of skills in diagnosing, promoting and protecting their own health. Lastly, sound youth strategies need to involve professional health workers to share and understand the concept of power-sharing so that young people learn that curing goes alongside of caring and promoting.