Tuesday, 4 August 2009 | posted by scott.forbes
Activism, General, Public health
The World Health Organization defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Eating right, exercising, and sleeping well play an equal role in the prevention of infections and diseases. However, a good sense of self, a loving supporting network, and the potential for continued personal growth is also important to our overall wellbeing.
Many of us are not in control of the factors that cause us to become ill whether they be genetic, environmental, or something else entirely. There are many avenues we can take to improving our health; which include the use of traditional and modern medicines when we are ill.
However, most people cannot access or afford proper health care such as; healthy sanitation and hygiene, which is necessary to prevent the spread of disease.
Moreover, a large proportion of the global population are disenfranchised because of poverty, geographic location, disability, or social stigma against those who are ill. In addition, sexual health continues to be a highly contentious issue around the world particularly with concern to the method of transmission, of some of the world's deadliest diseases such as HIV/AIDS. Furthermore, one of the most pressing issues in terms of health and wellness is the education, prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. The Millennium Development Goals seek to address this issue, specifically in Goal 5: Improve maternal health and Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases.
While people of all ages should maintain good health, young people face special challenges, during the transition from childhood to adulthood. With the onset of puberty, the body changes to accommodate physical and emotional growth, but it also marks one of the most vulnerable stages in a young person's life. During this time, females tend to struggle more than males with body image and self-esteem issues, which can lead to dangerous eating disorders and even death. On the other hand substance abuse, depression, self-mutilation and suicide have higher incident rates in males than females and if left untreated these health concerns may lead to permanent mental and physical damage.
Given that everyone’s body and medical history is different, it is important to be aware of what makes you sick, and even what makes you feel better on a personal level.
There is extensive international research documenting the ways, in which the health status of individuals or groups is significantly determined by social and economic conditions, as well as by therapeutic care or personal health behaviours. Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) are social and economic conditions that influence the health of individuals and communities. A wealth of research on SDOH provides evidence that: health follows a social gradient; stress damages health; the health impacts of early development and education lasts a lifetime; poverty and social exclusion cost lives; stress in the workplace increases the risk of disease; job security improves health; unemployment causes illness and premature death; social supports and supportive networks improve health; alcohol, drug and tobacco use are influenced by the social setting; healthy food is a political issue; and healthy transport means walking and cycling and good public transport. Other basic determinants of health such as; genetics interact with SDOH to present a broad overview, of why some individuals and communities are healthy while others are not.
In 2002, Canadian researchers, policy-makers and community representatives gathered together at a conference entitled “The Social Determinants of Health Across the Life-Span” to discuss the current state and health implications of key SDOH in Canada. The conference produced “The Toronto Charter for a Healthy Canada” which identified ten key SDOH for Canadians as recognized in Health Canada and the World Health Organization (WHO) documents. The ten Social Determinants of Health in alphabetical order include: early life; education; employment and working conditions; food security; health services; housing; income and income distribution; social in/exclusion; the social safety net (including contributions from the voluntary and community sector); and unemployment and job security - which are directly related to the ways in which resources are organized and distributed among the members of a society.
Sustainable health and wellness, is not only part of our survival but it is also a continuously, rewarding way to live out our entire lives. I for one am a firm believer that sustainable health, is just one key ingredient to a recipe of future survival, but all in all we should be concentrating our efforts on building a future of sustainable development.
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4 August 2009
hey .ia am 17 and i want to participate in this project. how can i inscrire and when plz call me soon
4 August 2009
that’s up tight and challenging information and it is great to know that the WHO doesn’t only concentrate on HIV/aids even if its the cause of concern now.i hv friends that suffer from eating disorders becoz of the world around us during puberty .we all wanna look like models,i want to be one who raises awareness on such things.plz contact me if thrs a group like tht.
5 August 2009
Hello! I am 20 and I would like to participate in this project! How can I apply for this? Is it possible?
Thanks.
6 August 2009
I’m 21, i know that it’s not possible you have limited the age between 16 and 19, but nevermind if I’ll try as we say in frensh:” qui ne tente rien n’a rien”. thank you.
6 August 2009
I’m 18 years old, I want to participate to this meeting. think you
6 August 2009
besselkhayr rani haba nakhdem 3ankom chhal tkhalsoni fa ch’har ma3lich fame di minage wella makach adouni berk l mohim nchoufkoum fi lanegliz galouli ntouma chabine weli galuli ma yakadbouch
6 August 2009
I have submitted my application but cant understand the issues of the video application can someone please explain 2 me…
6 August 2009
the dates are during exam time!!!!!!!!
and this video thing…guys some of us are far from that technology but are interested in the program..ma1
7 August 2009
Hi,
I am 21+ ,i want to participate in Global changemakers, Is it possible for me?
Waiting
8 August 2009
hey Scott, you did not tell me anything about to film a video for this event yet.
8 August 2009
Hey Italo, I did send you an email obviously it hasn’t reached you, for sure send me a link and I’ll give you some feedback
10 August 2009
i would like to join with you to make a global different to ower society
12 August 2009
I think things will get better once we have healthcare reform.
14 August 2009
I am here to share some good thoughts for you guys. I know this really can help. This is about choices for healing - body, mind, spirit.
Create Your Health (CYH) is designed to inspire and give you choices regarding improving your life – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Each episode will introduce you to a particular therapeutic tradition and demonstrate what a treatment within that practice is like. Check out their website http://createyourhealth.com and discover several alternative health practices and take charge of your life to be able to live pain free again - no drugs and no surgeries.
26 August 2009
Hello everybody!
Nice to see you all and find this information about summit. My name is Viktoriia and I’m from Ukraine. I’m actually 19 so I have no problems for applyings, but I don’t agree with preparation team that between 19 and 20 (or 21, 22 etc) great difference exists. The second point is about compulsory video. As Lerato said, some of us are very far from this technology. For instance, me. But, dear prep team, it doesn’t mean that I’m not enough good for participating. Maybe you can rewrite the rules, or make some exceptions.
Hope to hear from you.
Good luck to all!
28 August 2009
hi guys i really wanna know when are going to show us the summit results i´m really exited to know it…thanks
good luck to everybody¡¡¡