Abstract
Aim
The authors introduced a new public health initiative in Bavaria.
Subjects and methods
The initiative called Gesund.Leben.Bayern. (Healthy Living in Bavaria) applies a complementary promotion-prevention approach to the settings of daily living. The priorities for the Bavarian initiative are based on specific Bavarian epidemiological data and the Bavarian situation, and reflect WHO recommendations, including those contained in the World Health Report 2002.
Results
The initiative includes four priorities for public cofinancing and recognition: freedom from tobacco smoke, responsible use of alcohol, availability and choice of healthy nutrition and sufficient physical exercise opportunities, and health promotion at the workplace. A specific aspect of the Bavarian initiative is the requirement for explicit evaluation, aiming at generating new evidence of adequacy, success and cost-effectiveness of different prevention and promotion approaches. First steps have been taken: gearing up for participation and shaping the strategy; setting up a programme secretariat; building criteria for evidence, self reporting and evaluation into the application form; gearing up for scientific support; and setting an example of good practice.
Conclusion
Bavaria is embarking on an evidence-based, focused and participative approach to health promotion and disease prevention that aims at improving the participants’ health and quality of life.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Umwelt, Gesundheit und Verbraucherschutz (2003) Gesetz über den öffentlichen Gesundheits- und Veterinärdienst, die Ernährung und den Verbraucherschutz sowie die Lebensmittelüberwachung vom 01.08.2003 [Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection. Legislation on the Public Health and Veterinary Medicine Service, Nutrition and Consumer Protection and Food Safety of 1 August 2003]. http://www.stmugv.bayern.de/de/gesundheit/gdvg/gdvg.htm
Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Umwelt, Gesundheit und Verbraucherschutz (2004) Bürgergutachten Gesundheit [Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection. Citizens report on health]. http://www.stmugv.bayern.de/de/gesundheit/buergergut_ges.htm
Beske F (2005) Prävention – Ein anderes Konzept [A different concept of prevention]. Fritz Beske Instituts für Gesundheits-System-Forschung, Kiel, Germany
Currie C, Roberts C, Morgan A, et al (eds) (2004) Young people’s health in context. Health behaviour in school-aged children (HBSC) study: international report from the 2001/2002 survey. WHO Policy Series: health policy for children and adolescents, issue 4. WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen (survey data will be available at the end of 2005 at http://www.hbsc.org/survey_data.html)
Deutscher Bundestag (2005) Gesetz zur Stärkung der gesundheitlichen Prävention. Drucksache 15/4833 [German Parliament: Law on strengthening prevention in health]
Leidl R (2004) Wirtschaftliche Aspekte des Tabakrauchens. 2. Deutsche Konferenz für Tabakkontrolle. GSF-Forschungszentrum für Umwelt und Gesundheit und Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. Heidelberg, 15 December 2005 [Economic aspects of tobacco smoking]. See also http://www.gsf.de/Aktuelles/Presse/Rauchen.pdf
Poundstone KE, Strathdee SA, Celentano DD (2004) The social epidemiology of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Epidemiol Rev 26:22–35
US Department of Health and Human Services (2003) Steps to a healthier US: a program and policy perspective (prevention portfolio). US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington DC
World Health Organization (1999) Health 21: health for all in the 21st century (chapters 4 and 5). WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen
World Health Organization (2002) World Health Report 2002: reducing risks, promoting healthy life. WHO, Geneva
World Health Organization Regional Committee for Europe (2002) Resolution EUR/RC52/R7 Poverty and health—evidence and action in WHO’s European region. See also WHO’s initiative on Assets for health and development, at the European Office for Investment for Health and Development based in Venice http://www.euro.who.int/SocioEconomicDeterminants/assets/20030130_1
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wildner, M., Zöllner, H., Caselmann, W.H. et al. Strategy for a public health initiative at regional level—the example of Bavaria. J Public Health 13, 318–324 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-005-0128-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-005-0128-8