Question

How is health promotion integrated into the care of homeless and immigrants?

Answer 1

Health promotion is "the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health. To attain health, a person/group must be able to identify and realize aspirations, to satisfy needs, and to change or cope with the environment. Health is a positive concept that forces social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities. That's why health promotion is considered as the responsibility of each and every individual who goes beyond healthy -lifestyle to well being and not of the health sector only.

every person has the right to access health services that meet their needs. this includes people affected by homelessness. for people who are homeless and those with health problems, the access of the health care will be difficult.

according to a national health audit carried out by Homeless link (2010). it was found that 8 out of 10 homeless people have one or more physical health need and 7 out of 10 homeless people have at least one mental health need. the audit also reported 1 in 3 homeless persons regularly eat less than 2 meals per day. there are also reports of drug addiction, death of aged women, suicides. so being homeless influences considerably the physical and mental health and well being of people.

since health promotion intends on the collaboration of physical, emotional, social needs of an individual. social needs mainly insists on the environment and society were he / she lives. the environment were an individual leave is a sole factor that contributes to health.

lack of proper sanitation, poor home facility, sudden change in the climate , safe drinking water and food facility, safe disposal of waste all depends the health of an individual.

health promotion utilizes effective techniques of identification, screening of health problems for homeless and immigrants, utilization of the available resources, health personnel collaboration, social agencies, immigration agencies, volunteers, charitable trust etc.

research activities both qualitative and quantitative were carried out to get a relative idea of the total number immigrants and homeless people and the effect of it on them. these helps to carryout steps according to them.