Achieving Optimal Overall Health and Development

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Why is health a critical component of development?

This viewpoint sees the opportunity for health and health care as critical components of development and recognizes the interrelatedness among health and other valuable social ends (i.e., education) and at the same time emphasizes health's importance for individual agency - i.e., people's ability to live a life they value.

What is a child health and Development Unit?

The goal of the Child Health and Development Unit is to end preventable child deaths and promote the healthy growth and development of all children in the first decade of their life.

What does health mean?

Health can be viewed as the presence or absence of disease or medically measured risk factors in an individual. However, more broadly, health is 'a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity' (WHO 1946).

How can a child grow and develop optimally?

To grow and develop optimally, children need to receive nurturing care. This means that they enjoy adequate nutrition and good health, feel safe and secure, and have opportunities for learning starting from birth. Exclusive breastfeeding, immunization and timely care during illness all contribute to a child’s healthy growth and development.

What is health data?

The bigger the group, the bigger picture we get of health in Australia. Health data is any information about health. This includes: results from research studies. Having data available about your health can ensure appropriate care, improve your treatment and save your life. This happens when health professionals share data.

Why is linking health information across the health system important?

That’s why linking different health information across the health system is an important part of our work. Australia shares other health system challenges with countries around the world — the rising cost of the health system, being able to respond to new health issues, inequality in access to health services and hospital waiting times.

What is developmental health & wellbeing?

“Developmental health and wellbeing” is a term used to describe the developing human’s response to experiences and environmental circumstances 1 .

What is Australia's health system?

Australia’s health system is a complex mix of service providers and other health professionals from a range of organisations – from Australian and state and territory governments and the non-government sector. Collectively, they work to meet the physical and mental health care needs of Australians.

What Is Overall Health And Development

1. https://www.who.int/teams/maternal-newborn-child-adolescent-health-and-ageing/child-health/healthy-growth-and-development
2. https://www.unicef.org/health/health-and-child-development
3. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/children-youth/making-progress-health-development-wellbeing/summary
4. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267868463_Health_and_Development
5. https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/child-health-development
6. https://sdgs.un.org/topics/health-and-population

Overall Health And Development Information

1. https://www.health.gov.au/about-us/the-australian-health-system
2. https://www.ama.com.au/position-statement/developmental-health-and-wellbeing-australia%e2%80%99s-children-and-young-people-revised
3. https://www.health.vic.gov.au/victorian-public-health-and-wellbeing-plan-2023-27