 Project Outline
The Board of the Numurkah District Health Service have approved the most significant health initiative to be introduced to the Numurkah District in the past ten years. With a focus on chronic disease prevention through a comprehensive health promotion program; early intervention for those at risk of chronic disease or newly diagnosed and helping chronic disease sufferers to better manage their disease, this project will seek to help and support the young, parents, families and the elderly to live healthier lives. Led by the team at Community Health, this will not just be us doing something to the community, it will be a genuine partnership project in which community groups, sporting clubs, schools, businesses, families and individuals will be encouraged to not just be a part of the project but be active leaders and champions to show the better way to a healthy life!
Chronic Disease: Prevention through Health Promotion
Numurkah: Showing the better way to a health life is an action goal and challenge to the community in partnership with Community Health, to build a healthier community. Think about these messages:
- Showing a better way to health promotion
- Showing a better way to healthy eating
- Showing a better way to physical activity
- Showing a better way to building strong families
- Showing a better way to a healthy workplace
- Showing a better way to dealing with crisis
- Showing a better way to dealing with depression (and more)
Our goal for this health promotion strategy is to reach across population groups, age groups and cultural groups. We believe that if we work together, community and health service committed to building a healthier community, the results can be far reaching.
Chronic Disease: Early Intervention and People at Risk—LIFE Program
Chronic disease is a serious problem, (examples: Diabetes, Cardiac, Respiratory, Arthritis, Hypertension, Depression) with the number of people newly diagnosed or at serious risk of contracting a chronic disease increasing with every year.
Consider these general factors that are part of the cause of why people contract a chronic disease:
Obesity
- Poor diet
- Lack of physical activity)
Lifestyle factors
Psychosocial issues That influence peoples choices in these areas and affect individuals motivation to change
The newly released evidence based program, LIFE will be the primary method to help people change their lifestyle and prevent disease and live happier, healthier lives. Our message to the community is this; Working together we can do it! You can do it! This program will provide the encouragement, coaching and support to enable individuals to change.
Chronic Disease: Improving Self Management
To help people who have been living with chronic disease for a substantial period of time Community Health will provide access to our highly trained staff to help them improve their quality of life through better self management of their disease.
Two methods would be used:
- Introduce people with a long term chronic disease to LIFE (subject to appropriate medical clearance) to help people change the lifestyle factors that are affecting their quality of life.
- Utilise one of a number of evidence based approaches to supporting people with Chronic Disease better self manage their disease
Encouragement, support and training will help people live better, healthier lives even though they may have a chronic disease.
Major Needs Analysis & Youth Research Initiative
We are very conscious that the demographics of our community are changing and with that, the needs of our community will also change. To help us develop, not just a plan for the next 3 years, but a plan looking forward for the next 10 years, we will be undertaking the most comprehensive research (including a strong focus on youth needs) conducted within the District. This will involve data research, community surveys, discussions and meetings with groups, schools, businesses and individuals to establish what the community want and need.
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