A challenge for health promotion

摘要

Two decades ago Annette Kaplun edited an important book on health promotion and chronic illness (1), pointing out the important links between the two fields. What is remarkable and unfortunate in 2011 is how little progress there has been to recognize the critical role that health promotion has in mitigating the impact of chronic illnesses and injuries, now somewhat uncomfortably termed non-communicable diseases or NCDs. The present status of NCDs in the world is their enormous burden to populations across the globe, regardless of level of economic development, and that the burden is increasing.