Health is the greatest wealth. A healthy person can overcome all the hardships of life. However, we live in a world where aggressive industrialization and modernization severely threaten our health. Excessive consumption of junk food, sedentary lifestyles, and poor nutritional habits have further exacerbated these hazards.
Amidst all these adverse circumstances, it has become our first and foremost duty to contribute toward the well-being of those around us. There are various ways to make a great impact on the overall health of our community. This article will discuss a few ways you can play your role toward a healthy community and society.
- Manage/Arrange Health Literacy Programs or Opt for a Public Health Career
According to Healthy People 2020, seniors with low health literacy experience a wide range of health hazards that others of the same age with high levels of health literacy do not encounter. Besides seniors, youngsters should also be educated regarding all aspects of their health and well-being. Therefore, if you seek to improve your community’s overall health, designing and promoting health literacy programs can help. Specialized professionals known as community health educators target different communities, identify their health literacy requirements, and design need-specific health literacy programs for them. Moreover, you can significantly improve public health in your community by acquiring specialized certifications in health literacy and education. Apart from enabling you to serve your community, these certifications offer a promising career. As per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary of a community health educator was $56,500 in 2020.
- Introduce Health Reforms at your Workplace
You can play a crucial role in promoting the well-being of your co-workers by introducing health reforms at your workplace. Taking smaller steps toward betterment will eventually create fruitful results. You can collaborate with the human resource department at your workplace and suggest launching a wellness program for all employees. You can also plan nutritional and healthy lunches for the whole staff. If some health program has already been initiated at your workplace, you can still play your part by encouraging others to adhere to the wellness program. You can also offer them to accompany you in your workout routine. If all of us contribute a little to improve the health standards in society, we can pave the way to a healthier community.
- Initiate a Plantation Drive
Increasing industrialization and urbanization of rural areas have resulted in unprecedented deforestation. This has consequently contributed to global warming and increased greenhouse gas emissions. The excessive presence of greenhouse gases, like carbon monoxide, in the environment is detrimental to human health. The need of the hour is to plant as many trees as possible to protect your community from the repercussions of deforestation. To promote good health and social responsibility in your community, you can initiate a plantation drive within your locality.
- Promote the Use of Public Transport
We live in a modern world where almost everyone owns a vehicle. The excessive use of fossil fuel-powered vehicles results in increased carbon emissions and, consequently, environmental pollution. If we start using public transport and minimizing fossil fuel consumption, we can counter the dreadful impacts of carbon emissions on human health. The first thing you need to do is to start using public transport yourself. Only then will we be able to convince and encourage others to reduce fuel consumption by using public transport. It will play a significant role in improving the living standard of your community.
- Volunteer
There are multitudes of non-profit organizations that cater to the health needs of people. These organizations often require volunteers to support them in their cause. You can offer your services to such organizations. By doing so, you will be able to contribute to improved health and living standards for your community. Your small contribution can be really beneficial for these organizations and the people they target to support. Offering your services free of cost can be the best way to improve public health in your community.
- Launch Physical Activity Awareness Campaigns in your Locality
We cannot overstate how important physical activity is to staying fit and healthy. Physical activity reduces the risk of cardiovascular issues and regulates blood sugar levels. Many people are unaware of the innumerable benefits of physical activity and are leading a sedentary lifestyle, which is ruining their health. Social media has become a very powerful tool these days when it comes to disseminating information. Use social media to introduce physical activity awareness among your community members. Through social media platforms, you can make them aware of the advantages of regular physical activity. Moreover, you can also provide them with information on the type of physical activity they need to engage themselves with in order to stay healthy.
Conclusion
Every individual is capable of making a positive contribution to the well-being of the society they’re living in. In fact, if we want to improve the standard of living for people, all of us must commit ourselves to playing our individual part. No society can flourish in the absence of collective effort. If we all initiate such small practices, as mentioned in the above article, we can boost public health within our communities. A healthy community will eventually become a progressive and successful community since all its members will actively indulge in developmental activities. Stay healthy and keep the ones around you healthier!
