Life University Spearheads Health Promotion Advocacy in Bangalore

Life University coordinated the World Health Organization Workshop, WHO, on worker health in Bangalore, India, December 17-18, 2007. The workshop is funded by a grant from the Association of Chiropractic College Presidents, in collaboration the World Federation of Chiropractic, WFC. The WHO Workshop stems from the “Straighten Up” India initiative.

With participation from a broad range of leaders in health care, civic, industrial and government, the Workshop on Worker Health set into action several historic advocacy outcomes. Outcomes included the signing of the Bangalore Declaration on a Healthy Workforce and the initiation of Bangalore’s first tobacco free construction site.

Local, regional and international workshop participants prioritized an action plan to improve the health of workers in Bangalore and Karnataka, in congruence with the WHO Global Action Plan on Workers Health and the Bangalore Declaration. Effects of the development will be huge, affecting 15 million residents in metropolitan Bangalore and 55 million in the State of Karnataka

The Bangalore Declaration on a Healthy Workforce was developed and signed by multiple regional and international leaders. The Declaration features a holistic cultural and environmental approach that focuses on health education, musculoskeletal health promotion, stress reduction and tobacco cessation. In addition to spinal health promotion, tobacco cessation is one of the top priority lifestyle recommendations of Straighten Up and Move and the WFC Public Health Committee.

In conjunction with the Bangalore Declaration and the Straighten Up India initiative, doctors of chiropractic are currently coordinating forward head posture research and education for police workers and school children in Bangalore. Dr. Ron Kirk presented several postural health promotion presentations at the workshop. Joining a host of health education leaders, Dr. Michel Tetrault, Executive Director of the Chiropractic Diplomatic Corps, delivered a presentation on the importance of chiropractic to India’s workers and its rapidly developing economy. Dr. Gerard Clum, President of the World Federation of Chiropractic and Life West College of Chiropractic was represented by Dr. Hari Khalsa.

The workshop experienced a growth of the Bangalore Healthy City Initiative operating in conjunction with the WHO Occupational Health Cluster. This grass-roots initiative is integrative and coordinates the vision, input and efforts of diverse stakeholders and subgroups of the population of Bangalore. WHO roundtable discussions were conducted in February 2007. These meetings revealed high levels of worker stress, spinal disorders, substance abuse, and exposure to pollutants and hazardous substances. In response, workshop participants transitioned from dialogue to action. Ultimately their efforts led to the signing of the Bangalore Declaration on a Healthy Workforce.

Implementation of theDeclarationis important because India suffers from a wide variety occupational health hazards and worker health disorders related to rapid industrialization. Large employers like the State of Karnataka and the City of Bangalore, as well as private companies, are looking for effective methods to reduce worker injuries and illnesses to improve the personal productivity of their employees. To assist in dealing with these issues, the Bangalore Healthy City Initiative, BHCI, has functioned collaboratively to establish goals, methodologies, facilities and training for the health assessment of workers and all citizens to promote positive health behaviors.

Now the Citizens Forum of the BHCI, in conjunction with the WHO Occupational Health Cluster, the Indian Occupational Health Centre (South), Straighten Up, Life University, the Association of Chiropractic Colleges, the World Federation of Chiropractic and the Chiropractic Diplomatic Corps is working to implement the WHO Global Action Plan on Workers Healthto empower and improve the health of the workers of Bangalore and the surrounding regions.

The Citizens Forum and WHO are advocating for the Straighten Up India health promotion initiative, and are gaining excellent results. For more information on how you can use Straighten Up to empower your practice, association, or community please visit www.wfc.org under the Projects header, www.life.edu under the Visitors header, www.cocsa.org under the Resources header, www.chirotoolbox.straightenupamerica, www.straightenupaustralia.com.au, www.straightenup-uk.co.uk.