What is health? The constitution of the World Health Organization (WHO) came into effect on April 7, 1948. It defines health as the complete state of physical, mental, and social well-being. The WHO authors noted that there is a tendency to think of health as the absence of disease. In this way, they included mental health and physical function as important dimensions of health. In addition to recognizing the value of the physical aspects of a person’s wellbeing, the WHO constitution includes the emotional and social aspects of that well-being.
Public health is the science and art of promoting and maintaining health and well-being. The purpose of public health is to prevent illness, promote life expectancy, and protect against disease. To achieve this goal, an empowered public sector must be able to utilize principles of justice, participation, and collaboration. In 2006, the WHO established the Commission on the Social Determinants of Health, which published its report on the subject. Its main objective was to identify factors that affect the health of the population.
The WHO defined health in 1948. In line with the World Health Organisation’s definition, “health” is the absence of disease or injury. But the World Human Rights Organization states that this definition is no longer adequate. A person’s health should be based on his or her personal and social resources, as well as on his or her ability to self-manage, adapt, and develop skills. In addition, the person should have a high quality of life.