A healthy settings approach is a “whole system” strategy to maximize disease prevention. It emphasizes key principles such as:
- community involvement
- partnerships
- empowerment
- equity.
Settings can normally be defined as places with physical boundaries, diverse roles and organizational structures. Examples include schools, workplaces, hospitals, villages and cities.
The healthy-settings approach has its roots in the WHO Health for All strategy and, more specifically, the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion.
WHO’s current focus areas related to this approach include:
- Regions for Health Network
- Small countries initiative
- Coalition of Partners on Health and Tourism.
The secretariat of the Healthy Settings Team is based in the WHO European Office for Investment for Health and Development (Venice, Italy) and is coordinating with all relevant WHO programmes.
