The Jakarta Declaration and Public Health

WHO Recognises Health Promotion Improves The Health Of All People

Aug 10, 2009 Tracey Lloyd

Presented in 1997, the Jakarta Declaration provided the World Health Organisation with an opportunity to review and update the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion.

The World Health Organisation plays a leading role in public health of both developed and developing nations. The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, presented at the First International Conference on Health Promotion in 1986 set out five key priority areas for health promotion:-

build healthy public policy,
create supportive environments,
strengthen community action,
develop personal skills, and
reorient health services.

In 1997, at the Fourth International Conference on Health Promotion, the Ottawa Charter was reviewed with consideration given to the challenges that would face public health and health promotion in the 21st century. The delegates noted that poverty, increasing urbanisation, aging populations and globalisation were among many issues which may have a negative impact on the health of people.

Delegates at the Fourth International Conference on Health Promotion, held in Jakarta, identified the following health promotion priorities:-

promote social responsibility for health;
increase investments for health developments;
consolidate and expand partnerships for health;
increase community capacity and empower the individual
secure an infrastructure for health promotion

Promote Social Responsibility for Health

Under this priority, there is a requirement that both government and private enterprise take responsibility and action to improve health outcomes. This can include ensuring that the health of individuals is not harmed by business practices, protection of environment and natural resources, legislating against harmful products and policing the marketing of unhealthy goods and services.

For many private enterprises, corporate social responsibility programs are a voluntary way to address the issue of social responsibility for health.

Increase Investments for Health Developments

A call to improve the amount of money spent on health and related areas, such as education and housing, are the focus of the second priority area in the Jakarta Declaration.

The delegates further noted that the spending should be in accordance with the specific needs of the community.

Consolidate and Expand Partnerships for Health

In order to be successful, health promotion requires the support of governments, business and community members. The delegates at the Fourth International Conference on Health Promotion, called for a strengthening of current partnerships and identification of new partnerships.

Community business partnerships can provide a health benefit to a community through a subsidised medical practice or provision of sponsorship to a community sports facility as well as providing a corporate advantage to private enterprise.

Increase Community Capacity and Empower the Individual

This priority area of the Jakarta Declaration links closely with the priority areas of creating supportive environments, develop personal skills and strengthen community action from the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion.

Recognising that health promotion is not carried out “on” people but rather with them, a call for increased health education, training and information provision was made, so that people are able to take responsibility for their own health outcomes.

Secure an Infrastructure for Health Promotion

The final priority area of the Jakarta Declaration requires that a sustainable funding base and opportunities for health promotion across a variety of settings needs to be determined.

The delegates at the Fourth International Conference on Health Promotion called for all countries to support the development of appropriate systemic responses to the health issues currently facing the world and those likely to be faced in the 21st century.

The Fourth International Conference on Health Promotion was an opportunity for the World Health Organisation and its delegates to assess the gains in public health made since the implementation of the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion in 1986. Held in Jakarta, the Fourth International Conference on Health Promotion restated the World Health Organisation’s commitment to the ideal of health for all and identified the major public health challenges likely to be faced in the 21st century. In 2005, the 6th International Conference on Health Promotion was held and the Bangkok Charter for Health Promotion was developed.

The copyright of the article The Jakarta Declaration and Public Health in Health Field is owned by Tracey Lloyd. Permission to republish The Jakarta Declaration and Public Health in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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