Not all change within a community is implemented through local community action. Local activities are often supported by essential interventions at other levels. This section, based on information in Egger et al (1990:98-112), contains examples of broad strategies which support changes in public health within communities.
These are:
Changes to the health environment often represent the greatest challenge to the health practitioner, but can also be the most cost and time effective strategies for influencing health behaviour. Many of the underlying causes of ill health are socio-economic. It is important for health practitioners to recognise and attempt to influence these causes at local, regional and national level.
| In the context of the character of the 'new' public health …
Baum suggests that: "we must be prepared to be troublemakers for health - to rock the boat, to challenge the status quo and, perhaps most importantly, to question our own way of working and ensure our practice matches the rhetoric". Baum in Egger et al 1990:94 |
Modifications can be made to the physical environment that will have a positive benefit for individual and community health. Changing the physical environment is often easier and more successful than putting resources into trying to change entrenched behaviours. There have been major gains in health in the area of injury prevention.
Examples of gains in the area of injury prevention by modifying the physical environment include:
Other examples of changing the physical environment for health benefits include putting up shade covers over playgrounds to protect children from the sun and planting trees to provide shade and to cut down on dust. The following is a story about how Julalikari Council in Tennant Creek worked with the local THS Aboriginal Health Promotion Officer on a project to plant fruit and shade trees at outstations in the Barkly. Project funding was provided, in part, by Health Promotion Incentive Funds. Community participation was key to the process as outstation residents would be the owners and carers of the trees after the planting.
| Planting trees for health benefits Most remote communities are in need of trees for dust suppression and for the provision of fruit and shade. The project included installing more water tanks for exclusive use in dust suppression and tree planting and establishing a small orchard of 250 mango trees. The Aboriginal Health Promotion Officer, Marlene, worked with us on this project. She found out what people wanted and talked about the importance of fruit for good nutrition. She told us about the funding and helped with co-ordinating the project. The four outstations that we established fruit trees on are Illuwur, Connells Lagoon, Blue Bush and Nammerinni. We recently visited some of the outstations and are pleased with the growth of the trees and efforts the community members are making in looking after the tress. Community members are extremely proud of their trees and are looking forward to harvesting the first fruits. Information provided by Julalikari Buramana |