Government ministers have affirmed their commitment towards the ‘Health in All’ policies through the signing of a pledge of commitment.
‘Health in All’ policies, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), is an approach to public policies across sectors that systematically take into account the health implications of decisions and seek synergies in order to improve population health and health equity.
According to this concept, ministries and their adjacent agencies have to take into consideration how their own policies and strategies affect and impact on people’s health.
Is the ministry responsible for housing just building houses or are they building homes families can thrive in?
Are the education policies forming responsible, educated young individuals who can make better decisions on their health?
These are some examples as to how policymakers in different sectors can take health into consideration while creating policies.
In an unprecedented move, the nine ministers present jointly signed and committed their ministries to this pledge yesterday in a forum presided by Designated Minister Macsuzy Mondon who is also the Minister for Home Affairs and Local Government.
In a clear demonstration of resolve for intersectoral collaboration in relation to the nation’s health and well-being, the ministers pledged to implement a roadmap for a sustained health in all polices.
Other than Designated Minister Mondon, the ministers present included: Minister for Health Jean-Paul Adam; Minister for Youth, Sports and Culture Mitcy Larue; Minister for Habitat, Infrastructure and Land Transport Charles Bastienne; Minister for Environment, Energy and Climate Change Didier Dogley; Minister for Industry, Entrepreneurship Development and Business Innovation Wallace Cosgrow; Minister for Family Affairs Jeanne Simeon; Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Pamela Charlette, and Minister for Employment, Immigration and Civil Status Myriam Télémaque.
Absent were the Minister for Education and Human Resource Development Joel Morgan, Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine Maurice Loustau-Lalanne as well as the Minister for Finance, Trade and Economic Planning Peter Larose.
“This declaration will make sure all of our future policies and legislations help in the endeavour to create a healthier society. The health sector cannot and must not do it alone,” Minister Adam clarified.
Prior to the signatures the ministers took part in a discussion on the feasibility of the pledge.
Key issues discussed included the urgent need to address cardiovascular problems, food consumption which does not permit for a healthy lifestyle, importation of substandard and unhealthy food items, importance of prevention through a coordinated approach from all actors and importance of family and community-building.
Indeed in an extensive presentation, Dr Conrad Shamlaye revealed glaring inequalities in health between well-to-do Seychellois families and families on the low income spectrum.
Dr Shamlaye emphasised the link which exists between health and social and economic factors, stating that a healthy nation begins with good infrastructure, sanitation, education, employment rate, salary and so forth.
He also said that health is at the centre and an integral part of the county’s sustainable development goals, hence challenges faced by the health sector should be faced head on by everyone.
When asked how her ministry plans to uphold the pledge, Minister Télémaque said her ministry will firstly look into the possibility of encouraging employers to conduct educational campaigns on health in order to promote staff well-being. She also congratulated work places that already support healthy living through initiatives such as having their own gyms.
Whereas Minister Charlette told the press that her ministry plans to champion not only local fruits and vegetables as alternatives to imported ones, but also organic products through the promotion of bio-fertilisers.
“Health is for us all even with its challenges and flaws. Each ministry has a role to play in the health sector,” rounded up Dr Shamlaye.
The signature of the ‘Health in All’ pledge of commitments is a continuation of the ‘My health, My responsibility’ campaign which took flight in February 2014.
Source : Seychelles NATION