diseases in the community. The main purpose of promoting health in communities is to positively influence the individuals living in the community to improve their health status. By promoting health in your community, you can enhance the quality of life for all the people living in it.
We know that it is better to take precautions to protect yourself from sickness than to suffer the consequences of the disease later. A large number of deaths globally happen due to preventable causes. It is possible to reduce the mortality rate through health promotion in communities.
In this article, we will discuss the steps that can be taken to promote health in the community:
1. Educate yourself
If you want to address critical health issues and promote health in the community, you must have enough knowledge and expertise to do so. You cannot improve health outcomes at a community level unless you have extensive knowledge about health promotion, public health, disease prevention, and much more. Before trying to bring a positive change in the lives of people, educate yourself and pursue a degree in the relevant field.
If you have completed your bachelor’s in a health-related field, you can consider going for a masters in health education online to gain knowledge and skills to effectively address public health issues and promote healthy communities. During your post-graduate degree program, you will be prepared to translate your passion for public health promotion into actual outcomes. Moreover, it is easier for people to trust a professional than an individual with no evidence-based knowledge.
2. Practice healthy habits at home
Before trying to change the whole community, first, make sure that your own home is healthy and free from illnesses. It is important to take care of your and your family’s health at home. Doing so allows you to live a healthy lifestyle and also lessens the strain on hospitals and medical centers. The best way to normalize a healthy lifestyle for your children is to encourage them to follow you. By practicing healthy habits in front of your children, you are preparing them to do the same and live healthily.
Encourage your children and other family members to avoid junk and processed foods, sugary and carbonated drinks, fatty foods, etc. Eat a diet rich in vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, low-fat dairy, and more. However, overconsumption of any food should be avoided. Remember to eat everything in moderation, so you can save yourself and your family from overnutrition.
Be physically active and motivate your children to do the same. Do not let anyone in your home lead a sedentary lifestyle. No physical activity is a leading cause of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, etc.
3. Stay healthy at work
Your healthy habits should not only be limited to your home, but they should extend to your workplace as well. At your workplace, you can be a source of motivation for other people. The best way to bring positive change in the community is by setting an example through your actions. The snacks that are usually available in office canteens are unhealthy and lack nutritional value. Instead of munching on unhealthy and processed snacks, you can take homemade food to work.
Moreover, you can talk to the human resources department of your office and request them to consider starting an employee wellness program. An employee wellness program will provide a pathway of creative options for employees to nurture their physical and emotional well-being inside or outside the office. And if the program already exists in your office, you can find ways to promote it among the employees of the company. It is pleasantly surprising to see that most people are just looking for an ounce of encouragement to switch to a healthy lifestyle.
4. Volunteer at a social services organization
It may seem a little hard to bring such a change in the community at an individual level. However, you can work under the shadow of organizations that are already doing community work, especially regarding healthcare. You can consider doing research on non-profit social services organizations that aim to promote and improve the health of communities. You should find out how they operate and what their objectives are. You can volunteer at such organizations and provide them with your services.
You will find plenty of volunteering opportunities at social services organizations. It is because these organizations are solely relying on the efforts of people who are willing to work with them and support their cause.
5. Encourage the use of public transport
Air pollution is one of the major causes of many diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke, lung cancer, asthma, skin diseases, neurological diseases, and more. Automobile vehicles are a major contributor to air pollution because they produce significant amounts of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and other harmful substances. It is a serious threat to the health of people living in the community.
The only possible solution to this is to encourage the use of public transport to reduce air pollution. If every person travels by their own vehicle, there will be too many vehicles on the roads, causing the air to become severely toxic. However, it can be avoided by the use of public transport as multiple people will use only one vehicle for traveling, leading to less air pollution. This simplest measure can keep the community healthy and safe from serious health diseases.
Conclusion
Promoting healthcare in your community is linked to the reduced risk of chronic diseases and a low mortality rate. So many deaths that occur in the world each year can be prevented simply through awareness and health promotion. You can contribute to the society by promoting and improving community health. It is possible to make a significant impact in people’s lives by setting an example, pursuing a career in public health, and encouraging people to adopt healthy habits.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.