Seixal City Health Development Plan
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BROCHURA 26.05.06 15:25 Page 1 BROCHURA 26.05.06 15:25 Page 2 BROCHURA 26.05.06 15:25 Page 3 Messages from the Healthy Seixal Project Technical Co-ordinator and Political Co-ordinator The Seixal City Health De- The present plan is not only an evolution; it is also a com- Dear citizens and partners, velopment Plan for the Mu- mitment. It represents the commitment of services, struc- nicipality of has proven a tures and citizens who over the months have worked to put The Seixal City Health De- precious instrument for the it together. velopment Plan is vitally deployment of the Health important, in the revision For All Strategy, within the Therefore, we have tried to focus future actions on priority we hereby present, in this Healthy Seixal Project. areas, setting out from higher knowledge, hence a more development phase of the realistic situation, and putting the health gains from those Healthy Seixal Project. It Since 1998, when the Plan interventions in perspective. records the whole partner- was approved, new joint ship work, identifies needs, actions have been estab- The Plan is divided in eight chapters, according to the devises actions and in- lished for health locally, major strategic lines. Each chapter identifies the starting volves community agents. practical knowledge has point through analysis of available information, as well as In this context, health is the been generated on how to promote citizen heath, work the community’s opinion. New goals have been set and goal everyone strives to achieve. habits have been created for intersectoral teams and new ways of evaluating those goals have been found. everybody’s conscience has been raised towards active This Plan is also an exercise of democracy, mirroring the participation on the defence of health and quality of life. In assuming this plan, we state our ambition to do more spirit of cooperation and associative qualities of the Health gains have shown the path we have walked has and to do best. We thank everyone involved wholehearted- Municipality. To live, build and develop, a healthy city no been worth it: we have a deeper knowledge and control ly; they represent the trust and energy which will enable us doubt needs to create conditions which encourage com- over health determinants; various health promotion pro- to build a healthier Seixal together. munity participation and allow for a wholesome experience jects have been implemented, aimed at children and of citizenship. youngsters, women, senior citizens, active citizens and ethnic minorities; wide spaces for discussion have been Technical Co-ordinator Programs developed within the scope of the Healthy Seixal created, such as the Healthy Seixal Forum, which every Celeste Gonçalves Project have direct and indirect influence on different le- two years brings together around 150 institutions and 400 (Public health practitioner) vels (such as social action, education, culture, sports, envi- people to analyse and increase health in the Municipality of ronment, vulnerable groups, and lifestyles, among many Seixal. others), thus globally contributing to the quality and well being of the population. The initial proposal has not always been followed. The Health Development Plan is a work tool which has never- This document reflects in itself the partnership work and theless changed according to new problems and the con- intersectoral spirit needed to put it together. Therefore, on stant need to adapt to changes and find solutions for those behalf of the Healthy Seixal Project, I would like to thank problems. wholeheartedly everyone who cooperated to put this Project together, as well as everyone who, on a daily basis, It must also be mentioned that monitoring health is not helps make it come true. easy. Health information systems leave a lot to be desired, although adequate tools have been created within this Political Co-ordinator scope, like analysis of some health indicators through the Alfredo Monteiro geographical information system and application of opi- (Mayor of Seixal) nion surveys conducted regularly on the inhabitants of Seixal. 1 BROCHURA 26.05.06 15:25 Page 4 BROCHURA 26.05.06 15:25 Page 5 Introduction “Seixal Saudável - Juntos pela Saúde” (Healthy Seixal – Together for Health): Motto for a Movement with Roots The Healthy Seixal Project joins together several institutions for the development of health in the Municipality of Seixal. It integrates over 100 institutions, mainly municipal institu- tions, organized according to the following structure: Political Co-ordinator Technical Co-ordinator The Mayor of Seixal The Health Authority for the Municipality of Seixal Officer Group Steering Group Ensures the project is carried Lays down the philosophy and strategy according to the guidelines defined for the project. by the Steering Group. Healthy Seixal Forum Healthy Seixal Partnership Healthy Seixal Project Office A grand municipal initiative which joins The group of institutions which, in their own competence Collects and produces information together every Healthy Seixal Project and co-operating across a range of sectors, animate the on the Project; Follows and monitors partner and other interested entities. programs in the Seixal City Health Development Plan. the Health Development Plan along It evaluates the main program areas and with the Project partners. intersectoral projects within the Health Its cooperation with the Project is revealed through Development Plan. signing a Declaration of Commitment to the Project’s principles and developing a set of good practices and plans designed in the Partnership Letter. 3 BROCHURA 26.05.06 15:25 Page 6 The Seixal City Health Development Plan: A Continuing Process for the Global Development of the Municipality The Municipality of Seixal has assumed its involvement with the principles of the Healthy Cities movement of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1991. This commitment was made formal in 1998, following the integration of the Municipality in Phase III (1998-2002) of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network. To properly address this commitment, a thorough study of the Municipality was made, resulting in the Health Profile for the Municipality of Seixal. This was the first Municipality diag- nosis, about the health of the population and what conditions it. Therefore, it includes a detailed analysis of data and demographical, health, socio-economical, environmental and other indicators. Based on the results observed with the Health Profile, and together with representatives of different activities in the Municipality, as well as the local community, a second strategic document was put together, where the main intervention lines as to the needs identified in the Health Profile can be found. That document, the Seixal City Health Development Plan, was a guideline for the intervention of the Healthy Seixal Project in Phase III of the Healthy Cities Project. After the end of the Plan’s timeline, it was reviewed based on a series of designs. The Health Development Plan’s review for Phase IV is based on: > The evaluation of the Health Development Plan for 1998-2003 and the Health Profile. > The application for Phase IV (2003-2008) of the World Health Organization’s European Healthy Cities Network.> An efficient management of the processes tied to the Plan’s development, and the improvement of monitoring mechanisms and evaluation. > Assuming the Plan as a dynamic, developing and continually improving process. > Continuously improving the methods to implement the Health Development Plan, creating work groups to develop its greater areas. > Promoting good practices in health, developing a set of principles which aim to assure that developed actions and projects are well guided, and promoting their efficiency. Adding to these plans, the application to Phase IV and implementation of the Health Development Plan are based on a set of principles which are explained in the Declaration of Commitment signed by the political co-ordinator for the Healthy Seixal Project and its partnership. Which principles underline the review of the Phase IV Health Development Plan? > Contributing to the promotion and development of health and quality of life in the Municipality of Seixal, and to the application of other basic principles and purposes of the World Health Organization Healthy Cities Project in the Municipality of Seixal. > Supporting the application of the Municipality of Seixal to Phase IV of the World Health Organization Healthy Cities Project. > Supporting the implementation of WHO’s Health for All in the 21st Century principles and strategies, through the reduction of inequalities in health, promotion of healthy lifestyles, environment salubrity, and adequate health, among others. > Supporting the implementation of Local Agenda 21 principles and strategies, promoting a sustainable development and healthy environment which meets present needs and does not jeopardize the possibility for future generations to fulfil their own needs. > Cooperating with the Healthy Seixal Project Partners and supporting the participation of the Municipality of Seixal in the World Health Organization Healthy Cities Network. Before presenting the Plan, it is important to review the general context it applies to, briefly mentioning some social-demographical indicators for the Municipality. 4 BROCHURA 26.05.06 15:25 Page 7 Seixal: Past, Present and Future The building of the Phase IV Health Development Plan involved a review of some of the more representative indicators of actions with impact on