The Jakarta Declaration on the Direction of Health Promotion in the 21st Century is the name of an international agreement signed in 1997 at the World Health Organization`s Fourth International Conference on Health Promotion in Jakarta. [1] The Declaration reaffirms the importance of the agreements reached in the Ottawa Charter for health promotion and highlights certain aspects of health promotion. The Jakarta Declaration on Health Promotion provides a vision and goal for health promotion in the next century. It reflects the strong commitment of participants at the Fourth International Conference on Health Promotion to harness the widest possible range of resources to address the determinants of health in the 21st century. Determinants of Health: New Challenges These changes are shaping people`s values, lifestyles throughout their lives, and living conditions around the world. Some have great potential for health, such as the development of communication technologies, while others, such as the international tobacco trade, have a major negative impact. There is a clear need to break down traditional boundaries within the public sector, between governmental and non-governmental organizations, and between the public and private sectors. Cooperation is essential; this requires the creation of new partnerships for health on an equal footing between different sectors at all levels of corporate governance. Jakarta Declaration on The Direction of Health Promotion in the 21st Century Increasing investment in health development requires a truly multisectoral approach, including additional resources for education and housing, as well as for the health care sector. Participants called on WHO to take the lead in building such a global alliance for health promotion and to enable its Member States to implement the outcomes of the conference. An essential part of this role is for WHO to involve Governments, non-governmental organizations, development banks, united Nations system agencies, interregional agencies, bilateral organizations, the labour movement and cooperatives, as well as the private sector in promoting the priorities of health promotion efforts. All countries should create an appropriate political, legal, educational, social and economic environment to support health promotion. From: Jakarta Declaration in a Dictionary of Dentistry » Improving the capacity of communities to promote health requires hands-on training, leadership training and access to resources.

Empowering the individual requires a more coherent and reliable approach to the decision-making process and the skills and knowledge essential to change. National governments are called upon to take the lead in promoting and promoting health promotion networks within and among their countries. Declaration adopted by the World Health Organization in 1997 setting out priorities for health promotion. These include promoting social responsibility for health, increasing investment in health development, developing health promotion partnerships, empowering individuals and securing health promotion infrastructure. Transnational factors also have a significant impact on health. These include the integration of the global economy, financial markets and trade, broad access to media and communication technologies, and environmental degradation resulting from the irresponsible use of resources. Traditional communication and new news media support this process. Social, cultural and spiritual resources must be used in innovative ways. Health is a fundamental human right and essential to social and economic development. Increasingly, health promotion is recognized as an essential element of health development. It is a process that allows people to increase control over their health and improve it.

Health promotion has a significant impact on the determinants of health through investments and actions to create the greatest benefits for people`s health, contribute significantly to reducing health inequalities, promoting human rights and strengthening social capital. The ultimate goal is to increase health expectancy and reduce the gap in health expectancy between countries and groups. The Fourth International Conference on Health Promotion: New Actors for a New Era – Leading Health Promotion in the 21st Century, held in Jakarta from 21 to 25 July 1997, came at a critical time in the development of international health strategies. It has been nearly 20 years since the Member States of the World Health Organization made an ambitious commitment to a global strategy for health for all and the principles of primary health care with the Alma-Ata Declaration. It`s been 11 years since the first international conference on health promotion was held in Ottawa, Canada. This conference led to the proclamation of the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, which has since become a source of guidance and inspiration for health promotion. Subsequent international conferences and meetings have also highlighted the relevance and importance of key health promotion strategies, including sound public policies (Adelaide, Australia, 1988) and a supportive environment (Sundsvall, Sweden, 1991). The Fourth International Conference on Health Promotion is the first to be held in a developing country and the first to involve the private sector in support of health promotion.

The prerequisites for health are peace, housing, education, social security, social relations, food, income, women`s empowerment, a stable ecosystem, sustainable use of resources, social justice, respect for human rights and equality. Poverty, in particular, is the greatest threat to health. Research and case studies from around the world provide compelling evidence of the effectiveness of health promotion. Health promotion strategies can develop and change lifestyles and impact the social, economic and environmental conditions that determine health. In order to counter emerging health threats, new forms of action are needed. The challenge for the coming years will be to unlock the health promotion potential that exists in many areas of society, in local communities and in families. In many countries, current investments in health are insufficient and often ineffective. .