Innovation: Health promotion through health rooms

Latvia

AAI Domain: Independent, healthy and secure living (improving access to health care services)

Improving access to preventative health care services is one of the best ways to promote active ageing across the life course. Health promotion and prevention can provide early detection of major health risks and treatment when it is necessary. There is a good case for health checks for major indicators of health risk such as high blood pressure, raised glucose and cholesterol levels or the early signs of tuberculosis or cancer and education about healthy lifestyle choices can lead to people changing their health behaviour.

The Latvian Red Cross Society has undertaken an innovative programme of health promotion and prevention through health rooms. In partnership with state and local municipalities, a range of health promotion activities have been undertaken including raising awareness of HIV-AIDS, tuberculosis and non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cancer.

The provision of health rooms staffed by nurses or assistant physicians enables disadvantaged groups who are at greater risk of ill-health to access health care provision that can include a health check that includes measuring blood pressure, measure height and weight to calculate body mass index and to provide appropriate lifestyle advice. There are 40 health rooms that operate across Riga and other towns and cities across Latvia providing hundreds of consultations to vulnerable groups and the general population.

People who are in good health are encouraged to donate blood for the national blood transfusion service and in 2013 more than 11,000 people donated including nearly 1,800 who had not previously done so. Tuberculosis (TB) remains a threat to public health in Latvia but early identification of symptoms can be followed by effective treatment. A mobile X-ray unit staffed by medical professionals provided opportunistic screening at a variety of locations for those at high risk of TB.

In relation to active ageing, the health promotion through health rooms programme provides improved access to health care services, particularly to disadvantaged groups who can experience difficulties accessing services. It provides health education and promotes healthier lifestyles to adults of all ages who are at risk of developing both communicable diseases, such as HIV-AIDS and tuberculosis, as well as non-communicable diseases such as cancer and type 2 diabetes. This can be considered as a form of lifelong learning, particularly for people who are not fully aware of the major health risks that they face or how to change their lifestyles to reduce these risks.