Responsibilities and Functions

Responsibilities

The responsibilies of the unit are best defined through the unit's Terms of Reference:

  • Assess local health needs
  • Contribute to operational and strategic plans
  • Review programmes to ensure that they seek to promote health
  • Define health promotion and disease prevention strategies to be included in the national socio-economic development process
  • Promote healthy living though advocacy for healthy public policy, public education and healthy community projects to create supportive environments
  • Manage Health Education programmes on specific issues such as HIV/AIDS, Nutrition, Chronic Non Communicable and Communicable Disease and other health related issues
  • Provide training, support and counseling to all Health Care Providers and agencies who provide Health Promotion and Family Life Education programmes

Functions

The Centre is a catalyst to provide or facilitate the performance of the following functions:

  • Define health promotion and disease prevention strategies to be included as a critical aspect of the national socio-economic development process.
  • Provide advice on the health impact of national socio-economic development projects.
  • Assist in the formulation of national policies and programmes to promote and ensure healthy environments.
  • Assist in the formulation of national policies and plans to enhance the nutrition status of the population.
  • Negotiate with international funding agencies to ensure that health projects are formulated with a strong health promotion, protection and disease prevention component.
  • Establish inter-sectorial linkages with other sectors and agencies to ensure the well-being concept e.g. Ministries of Education, Agriculture, Community Development etc.
  • Strengthen the health promotion capabilities within the Ministry of Health through seminars, workshops and technical guidance.
  • Develop and implement strategies and programmes for the involvement of communities in health promotion and protection programmes e.g. exercise and fitness for healthy living, proper nutritional practices, “substance free zones”.
  • Promote through public education and community projects the importance of healthy lifestyles and individual responsibility for health.
  • Collaborate with the Princess Margaret Hospital and District Health Services in the planning and implementation of Family Life Education Programmes e.g. Healthy Motherhood, Childhood Health and Development, Adolescent Health, Care of the Elderly and Emotional Care of the sick family member.
  • Collaborate in the development, implementation and evaluation of health promotion programmes for communicable and non-communicable diseases e.g. HIV/AIDS/STD, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, dengue, mental health, substance abuse, domestic violence etc.
  • Prepare and disseminate health education materials on health/health-related issues.
  • Establish and maintain links with the media agencies and share information of a regular basis, especially on health promotion issues that need to be kept on the public agenda
  • Provide technical guidance to the Princess Margaret Hospital and the District Services on all aspects of health promotion and disease prevention programmes.

Programme Areas of the Centre

  • Non Communicable Disease programme to include the Anti-Tobacco Programme
  • Healthy Community Programme
  • Health Promoting School Programme
  • Nutrition
  • Health and Social Communication
  • Health Education through audio/visual materials – development, procurement and distribution
  • Training