Health: Our vision, priorities and strategies for the future

Abstract

Elizete Antonio R

WHO (2017) considers that Health Promotion is based on 3 pillars: Health Literacy, Good Governance and Healthy Cities. Since the HELSINKI convention (2013) we have agreed that it is necessary to objectify health in all policies and at the 22nd World Conference on Health Promotion (2016) the need to minimize the influence of conflicts between public and private interests was consolidated, go beyond the individual biomedical model and incorporate socio-cultural perspectives to promote equity. Promoting equity is a priority! How to promote equity in the face of so many different needs? We are late. Yes, we are different, but we all have common and divergent needs. Priority in health is to structure the beginning, the base. The Alma-Ata declaration (1978) already stated that primary health care includes at least: education regarding prevalent health problems and methods for their prevention and control, promotion of food distribution and appropriate nutrition, adequate provision of good quality water and basic sanitation, maternal and child health care, including family planning, immunization against major infectious diseases, prevention and control of locally endemic diseases, appropriate treatment of common diseases and injuries and provision of essential medicines. Each nation, each village, each moment has its own priorities, however, if we consider the basics, already mentioned in 1978, we still have a lot to do. I want to highlight the importance of water for survival and how common this is. It is incomprehensible that after so many technological advances we still have millions of people in the world without access to drinking water. We need urgent action to quench thirst in the world! By minimizing thirst, we will minimize hunger and these are basic, essential human needs, priority to life. All health problems are important, but in my opinion, this is a priority. As a strategy to solve this inequality, I think that we must make a political effort worldwide.