Health Promotion and Advocacy

Question: Discuss about the Health Promotion and Advocacy. Answer: Introduction Diabetes is a growing concern in Australia since several years. With 1.7 million Australians suffering from Diabetes, and every day 200 people developing this disease, it can be concluded that presently, Diabetes is the fastest growing illness in Australia. Type 2 diabetes is highly significant in Australia, being represented in 85-90% of cases (Malik et al., 2012). It is also known as the epidemic of the 21st century." This report is an outline of type 2 diabetes prevention campaign. The aim of this campaign is to create health-promoting the environment. The report provides the brief overview of type 2 diabetes and health problems associated with it. The first part of the campaign plan deals with health promoting activities that will help change individual behavior. The second part of the campaign plan describes the health promoting activities that aim to uplift the health of indigenous community working in partnership with specific communities such as CALD. The third part of the campaign plan contains an advocacy strategy that will push for a specific change in Australia to prevent type 2 diabetes. Background Diabetes is a chronic condition which is affecting million of people across the world. This metabolic disorder is caused by decline or absence of insulin and high blood sugar level. The common symptoms are unusual thirst, excess weight loss, and frequent urination (Fox et al., 2015). The long-term complications include cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, blindness, and many others. The other risk factors include low physical activity, aging, and family history of type 2 diabetes (Green et al., 2012). In Australia, there are approximately 2 million people diagnosed with diabetes and are at high risk of developing type II diabetes (Swinburn Wood, 2013). According to Malik et al., (2013), in Australia, there are limited prevention programs available for type II diabetes except in Victoria, which is insufficient for mass awareness (Ley et al., 2014). Australia has not taken serious large-scale approaches in the areas of type 2 diabetes prevention. Therefore, through this campaign, it will be easy to make people aware about health promoting activities to manage diabetes. It is the best way to reach community-wide, with all the people taking initiatives. The aim of the campaign is to prevent type 2 diabetes and reduce the growing prevalence rate. The campaign will increase the concern for disease among Australians. The campaign wants to push the government to strive hard to eliminate this serious threat from Australia. This national level campaign will be held at Spring Street, East Melbourne from 24th July to 31st July. The campaign will include health-promoting activities among Australians. Health Assessment- Using the COAG National Reform Agenda, the Australian government developed Type 2 Diabetes Risk Assessment Tool (AUSDRISK). According to a tool, a score above 12 indicates the high risk of type 2 diabetes (Rogers et al., 2014). The tool identifies the high-risk individuals by screening them by age, gender, family history, a level of physical activity and other factors. There will be such assessments and screen throughout this campaign. Individuals with high score must immediately involve in lifestyle modification program. According to Chen et al., (2012), type 2 diabetes can be prevented by implementing structured lifestyle behavior changes. Such changes were proved effective and long lasting in comparison to drug treatment in clinical trials. Healthy lifestyle- The campaign will welcome people to walk for 5Km to spread the message of healthy activities. While "walking" in this campaign, people will carry posters, flags and wear T-shirts printed with health-related messages. It will help to enhance health consciousness among people. People can incorporate regular 30 minutes walking in their daily routine by walking in the morning hours or at lunch or while returning from work. The campaign includes competitions such as food eating- where the participants will have to consume given food in stipulated time. This food is mainly the one essential for type 2 diabetes patients. It will be aware people about the type of diet required to minimize diabetes. Additionally, racing cycling will be other competitions held to spread the message of diabetes prevention. The message for people is to implement exercises and other physical activity in daily life. The message is to make healthy choices by decreasing the demand for sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy food items. People will be informed to intake more energy from fiber intake. However, through this campaign, meditation and yoga will be taught to elderly people who cannot engage in an intense physical activity. Physical activity will improve both the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular fitness (Abbasi et al., 2012). The campaign will be designed in a way to instill in minds of people that prevention in those at high risk is proven, possible and powerful (Gregg et al., 2012). The money generated through this campaign will go towards the Diabetes Australia Research program, which is funding grants on a merit-based process across diabetes research spectrum. These research projects will focus on prevention and cure for diabetes. The campaign includes the voting system, where people with type 1 diabetes will participate in the campaign and vote for the government initiative to fund "national type 2 diabetes prevention programs". These campaign activities will be funded by, Diabetes Australias member organizations. The campaign will support the Aboriginal community by providing health services and making efforts to remove the gap between Indigenous and non-indigenous population in Australia. The aim to reach this community is to help them make healthy lifestyle choices and decrease the prevalence of chronic disease. It was evident from the reports of Johnson et al., (2015) that Aboriginal Australians treat disease as a curse from the God. Therefore, they take no action against their illness. It is necessary to inform them that regular health checkups can prevent major illness. It is necessary to raise awareness among the community people that diabetes is preventable and if early actions are not taken, then heart diseases and kidney failure are inevitable. The partnership with the community and provision of controlled health services will increase the life expectancy. Through this campaign, some indigenous communities who are unable to reach health facilities can be registered free health checku ps. The goal of the partnership is to address the spiritual; physical and cultural wellbeing of the community. The cultural carers educate people about the chronic condition and dangers of having fast food. It provides knowledge on the nutritional value of traditional food. The campaign will encourage people to decrease the exposure of their children to unhealthy food advertisements. It educates women about preparing health and nutritious meal for their children. Health promoting activities that are discussed in the part 1 of the campaign will be taught to the Indigenous communities. It is necessary to promote a transition to a healthier lifestyle. This will enable to prevent chronic illness and enhance the health of patients already suffering from type 2 diabetes. The campaign is committed to providing services to "Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders" so that they have equal health outcome as that of non-indigenous Australians. The campaign involves taking feedbacks from Aboriginal diabetic patients to assess the major factor that hinders their treatment process. The plan is to address the contributing factors of indigenous health inequalities. The campaign is aimed to collaborate with National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organization Australian Indigenous Doctors Association Indigenous Dentists Association of Australia The campaign plans to provide culturally appropriate care needs to Aboriginal community and provoke the government to built partnership with these services to address health inequality at regional and national level. The campaign will trigger the government to make the national level effort to prevent type 2 diabetes in Australia especially among high-risk individuals. The campaign will address the needs of all the diabetic people by representing their interests. It will advocate the people about the significance of healthy lifestyle by highlighting the seriousness of diabetes and growing prevalence rate. It is essential to increase the community awareness of perceived susceptibility to diabetes. The goal of advocacy is to enhance the community access to quality information and type 2 diabetes preventive services. The strategies for advocacy include addressing the national issues by providing solutions to the diabetics and their families. It also includes identification of needs and working towards improving their quality of life. The strategy is to create commitment by mobilizing the people to become a part of the solution. The general public will become the part of the solution only when it is properly advocated to them that why type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease and the strategy is to support it with data, real life stories, and other evidence s. For this purpose, we have hired a best communicators who are eloquent and convincing. The campaign involves health professionals who are well trained in diabetes prevention program. These professionals will guide people in self-monitoring of Glucose. This campaign will collaborate with Diabetes Australia which is an advocacy organization for diabetes to advocate people on problems relate to insurance inequities, drivers license standards, and workplace discrimination, improper access to pharmaceuticals and another day to day life issues. For this purpose the campaign is also collaborating with the Australian governments and its departments as well as other health and private national bodies. People can approach for advocacy if they feel that they are facing an issue living with diabetes and need immediate action. The campaign intends to create mass awareness including those not yet affected by diabetes. The advocacy program will assist the family members to manage their diabetic members successfully. It will help the people in understanding the disease better and prevent its onset in future. This campaign will address any misconceptions surrounding people regarding the disease management. The campaign intends to lobby the governm ent to improve the standards of care. The campaign will trigger the government to make the national level effort to prevent type 2 diabetes in Australia especially among high-risk individuals. Conclusion Australia has not taken serious large-scale approaches in the areas of type 2 diabetes prevention. It has been nearly ten years since the release of Randomized control trial report, which revealed that type 2 diabetes in high-risk individuals is preventable. Despite this, there is no national action taken by the Australian government. Small or short-term projects will bring little success. A sustained prevention system is required to eradicate this threat completely form the country. The campaign discussed above aims to make the nation healthier and spread the awareness related to adverse consequences of type 2 diabetes. It intends to educate people about the healthy lifestyle. It will drive the community to quit sedentary behavior and embed physical activity and healthy diet in daily routine. The campaign will trigger the government to make the national level effort to prevent type 2 diabetes in Australia especially among high-risk individuals. Through this campaign, it will be easy to reach policymakers and drive them to participate in the challenge. The primary policy goal is to improve disease management and reduce complication rates. There is a need to develop the active surveillance system to identify "at risk individuals." In short, Australia needs prevention-focused environment. References Abbasi, A., Peelen, L. M., Corpeleijn, E., van der Schouw, Y. T., Stolk, R. P., Spijkerman, A. M., ... Beulens, J. W. (2012). Prediction models for risk of developing type 2 diabetes: systematic literature search and independent external validation study. Adler, N. E., Prather, A. A. (2015). The risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus: person, place, and precision prevention.JAMA internal medicine,175(8), 1321-1322. Albright, A. L., Gregg, E. W. (2013). Preventing type 2 diabetes in communities across the US: the National Diabetes Prevention Program.American journal of preventive medicine,44(4), S346-S351. Chen, L., Magliano, D. J., Zimmet, P. Z. (2012). The worldwide epidemiology of type 2 diabetes mellituspresent and future perspectives.Nature Reviews Endocrinology,8(4), 228-236. Dunkley, A. J., Bodicoat, D. H., Greaves, C. J., Russell, C., Yates, T., Davies, M. J., Khunti, K. (2014). Diabetes Prevention in the Real World: Effectiveness of Pragmatic Lifestyle Interventions for the Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes and of the Impact of Adherence to Guideline Recommendations.Diabetes care,37(4), 922-933. Fox, C. S., Golden, S. H., Anderson, C., Bray, G. A., Burke, L. E., De Boer, I. H., ... Inzucchi, S. E. (2015). Update on prevention of cardiovascular disease in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus in light of recent evidence a scientific statement from the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association.Circulation,132(8), 691-718. Green, L. W., Brancati, F. L., Albright, A., Primary Prevention of Diabetes Working Group. (2012). Primary prevention of type 2 diabetes: integrative public health and primary care opportunities, challenges and strategies.Family practice,29(suppl 1), i13-i23. Gregg, E. W., Chen, H., Wagenknecht, L. E., Clark, J. M., Delahanty, L. M., Bantle, J., ... Pi-Sunyer, F. X. (2012). Association of an intensive lifestyle intervention with remission of type 2 diabetes.Jama,308(23), 2489-2496. Johnson, G., Martin, J. E., Timoshanko, A. (2015). Preventing type 2 diabetes: scaling up to create a prevention system.Med J Aust,202(1), 24-26. Ley, S. H., Hamdy, O., Mohan, V., Hu, F. B. (2014). Prevention and management of type 2 diabetes: dietary components and nutritional strategies.The Lancet,383(9933), 1999-2007. Malik, V. S., Willett, W. C., Hu, F. B. (2013). Global obesity: trends, risk factors and policy implications.Nature Reviews Endocrinology,9(1), 13-27. Muraki, I., Imamura, F., Manson, J. E., Hu, F. B., Willett, W. C., van Dam, R. M., Sun, Q. (2013). Fruit consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes: results from three prospective longitudinal cohort studies. Rogers, E. A., Fine, S., Handley, M. A., Davis, H., Kass, J., Schillinger, D. (2014). Development and early implementation of The Bigger Picture, a youth-targeted public health literacy campaign to prevent type 2 diabetes.Journal of health communication,19(sup2), 144-160. Swinburn, B., Wood, A. (2013). Progress on obesity prevention over 20 years in Australia and New Zealand.Obesity Reviews,14(S2), 60-68.