a healthy community

24 May a healthy community

My idea of a healthy community is one where there are low
crime rates and good physical and emotional health. A healthy community should
promote well-being of its inhabitants in various ways such as: strong social
networks, clean water, pollution-free air, affordable quality healthcare, and
great schools. A healthy community is one that promotes well-being by
encouraging its residents to screen for illnesses for prevention to avoid the
burden of chronic disease.  Education
campaign should be organized to sensitize people about the most common
illnesses and educate them on how to avoid them to achieve a better life.
Resident should be aware of resources available to them in their community,
allowing them to feel safe. In my opinion, there is a strong relationship
between healthy people and strong communities.

A collaborative
effort is needed to promote a healthy community.  For example, I consider my community, Delta,
British Columbia a fairly healthy community overall, compared to most. It has a
very low crime rate. Delta municipality offers very good services to the public
regarding law enforcement, recreation, maintenance of public parks, recreation
areas and centers. There is regular night patrolling of police in all areas.
Public health services are extra ordinary in my community; community health
nurses identify vulnerable people from infant to senior, do regular health
visits, follow- up regularly. Postnatal mothers and infants get very good
services from public health nurses and paediatric nurses including the
provision of lots of free resources, Families with kids get reminder mails and
phone calls from community health nurses before the immunizations are  due.
There has been an improvement in air quality since the ban of smoking in
all public areas and tobacco free environment in schools colleges, and public
places few years ago. The community offers a number of Public Health Centers,
regional hospitals, great schools districts, public libraries, recreation
centers, fire stations, and police stations at walking distance for residents
of each community. There is also a variety of public parks, play ground and
recreation areas accessible to the general public at no cost or a small fee. I
believe in prevention and, in British Columbia and several agencies do a good
job conducting campaigns raising awareness regarding air and water pollution
throughout the year. Another excellent job is done by voluntary organizations
in the maintenance of each and every street in the community. In schools
teachers and children participate in various health programs with school nurses
and public health nurses. Some of the topics for creating awareness among
children are,

 

•Prevention of diseases through hand washing

•Protection of the environment

•Protection of heritage

•Safety

•Nutrition

 

Adolescents get health education regarding the ill effects
of smoking, alcohol, and illicit drug use. Teachers and school health nurses
offer sex education to them and provide relevant resources. In my view, these
topics are essential for children because they grow up to be responsible future
citizens who contribute positively to the family, community and nation.

 

 

 

In my view, healthy communities will have the following
components in common,

 

•Peace and order

 

•Low crime rates

 

•Good education systems

 

•Low unemployment rates

 

•Healthy public

 

•A stable ecosystem

 

•Pollution free environment including air and water.

 

•Food for everyone in the community

 

•Shelter for all people who live in the community

 

•Social justice

 

•Adequate resources for all like water, farmland, minerals,
industrial resources, plants, animals, etc.

 

•Creating awareness in people through health programs to maintain
health and wellness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a result of increased awareness, many organizations
introduced a variety of health programs nationwide. For example, American
Public Health Association initiated strategies and programs that address the
social determinants of health — the social, economic, environmental and
psychological factors that influence individual and community health, to
promote healthy communities. (American Public Health Association. n .d.).

 

 

 

As a Community Health nurse, I would collaborate with
others, to identify the obstacles or barriers in the community and work to
reduce or erase them to achieve the target of
healthy community.  I would also
network with community leaders, other public health nurses, volunteers, school
nurses to promote health programs, initiate safety strategies, promote
education, provide as many resources available for health promotion, initiate
prevention strategies, provide health education to all age groups in the
community in order to reach the goal of a healthy community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference

 

 

 

American Public Health Association. (n .d.). Healthy
Communities. Retrieved from : www.apha.org/topics-and-issues/healthy-communities