The role of health improvement is:

...to maintain and improve mental, physical and social health and the well being of the people who live and work in Gibraltar...

The sole Health Promotion Officer works within the health service and recognises the value of an illness-based approach to health, which focuses on the individual. However, the unit welcomes the reorientation and blending of recent health and social policy directives towards joint action and the underlying factors, which influence health and individual health behaviour.

Aims

• The pivotal role of the unit is to maintain and improve mental, physical and social health and collectively contribute to the well being of the people who live and work in Gibraltar.
• The Health Promotion Officer works mainly, although not exclusively, with professionals in the health service, workplace, education and community, and co-ordinators in the voluntary sector (where possible) rather than directly with the public. However, public involvement and the principle of 'starting from where the people are at' is integral to work practice.
• The unit provides a range of services although still manned by the sole officer. These include training, project development and a wide variety of health information and resources which are available for loan.
   

Core Functions

• Contribution to the development and implementation of strategies and policies which impact on health.
• The development and facilitation of educational initiatives and training in public health. These can be both skills and/or topic based.
• Acting as a facilitator, enabler and advocate with communities and/or particular interest groups.
• Initiation, management and evaluation of work programmes and specific health projects.
• The Health promotion unit provides advice and information, resources and practical support to anyone involved in health promotion activity.

The Health Promotion Officer is located on the 7th floor of building 1 at St. Bernard's Hospital.