Key facts

  • The World Health Organization Constitution entered into force on 7 April 1948 and defines health as complete physical, mental and social well-being, n...
  • Alma-Ata Declaration, 1978, placed primary health care and community participation at the centre of public health policy.
  • The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, 1986, identified building healthy public policy, supportive environments, community action, personal skills a...
  • National Health Policy, 2017, set preventive and promotive health as a major policy priority for India.
  • Food Safety and Standards Authority of India was established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, to regulate food safety and standards.

Key Points at a Glance

  1. 1

    The World Health Organization Constitution entered into force on 7 April 1948 and defines health as complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease.

  2. 2

    Alma-Ata Declaration, 1978, placed primary health care and community participation at the centre of public health policy.

  3. 3

    The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, 1986, identified building healthy public policy, supportive environments, community action, personal skills and re-oriented health services as key action areas.

  4. 4

    National Health Policy, 2017, set preventive and promotive health as a major policy priority for India.

  5. 5

    Food Safety and Standards Authority of India was established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, to regulate food safety and standards.

  6. 6

    The Recommended Dietary Allowances of the Indian Council of Medical Research and National Institute of Nutrition are the standard Indian reference for nutrient requirements.

  7. 7

    Oral Rehydration Solution is a World Health Organization recommended life-saving fluid for dehydration due to diarrhoea and remains useful as a health-education example of water-electrolyte balance.

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Concept of health and health education

Health is a positive and functional state, not only the absence of illness. For PTI-level objective papers, the important dimensions are physical health, mental health, social health, emotional health and spiritual or value-based well-being. Physical health covers fitness, posture, nutrition, sleep, immunity and freedom from preventable disease. Mental and emotional health include confidence, stress control, attention, motivation and adjustment. Social health is the ability to participate responsibly in family, school and community life. A sports teacher must connect these dimensions because an athlete can be physically strong yet perform poorly due to anxiety, fatigue, poor habits or social pressure.

Health education is the planned process of developing knowledge, attitudes and practices that help people protect and improve health. It uses information, demonstration, discussion, posters, peer influence and habit formation. Its aims include disease prevention, hygiene, safety, nutrition awareness, first-aid readiness, environmental sanitation and responsible use of health services. India's National Health Policy, 2017, also gives a preventive and promotive orientation to health policy. In schools, health education is not limited to a lecture period; it is practised through clean surroundings, safe drinking water, physical education, morning assembly messages, health clubs and teacher example.

Remember this core: health education changes behaviour, while medical treatment mainly treats disease after it appears.

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