Strategy for a public health initiative at regional level—the example of Bavaria

• Published in: Journal of public health 2005-11, Vol.13 (6), p.318-324
• Main Authors: Wildner, Manfred, Zöllner, Herbert, Caselmann, Wolfgang H., Kerscher, Günther
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alcohol use; Health promotion; Prevention; Public health; Quality of life
• ISSN: 0943-1853; 2198-1833; 1613-2238
• DOI: 10.1007/s10389-005-0128-8

The authors introduced a new public health initiative in Bavaria. The initiative called Gesund.Leben.Bayern. (Healthy Living in Bavaria) applies a complementary promotion-prevention approach to the settings of daily living. The priorities for the Bavarian initiative are based on specific Bavarian epidemiological data and the Bavarian situation, and reflect WHO recommendations, including those contained in the World Health Report 2002. The initiative includes four priorities for public cofinancing and recognition: freedom from tobacco smoke, responsible use of alcohol, availability and choice of healthy nutrition and sufficient physical exercise opportunities, and health promotion at the workplace. A specific aspect of the Bavarian initiative is the requirement for explicit evaluation, aiming at generating new evidence of adequacy, success and cost-effectiveness of different prevention and promotion approaches. First steps have been taken: gearing up for participation and shaping the strategy; setting up a programme secretariat; building criteria for evidence, self reporting and evaluation into the application form; gearing up for scientific support; and setting an example of good practice. Bavaria is embarking on an evidence-based, focused and participative approach to health promotion and disease prevention that aims at improving the participants' health and quality of life.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]