The 360º Algarve Health Space Project, promoted by the Saúde em Dialogue Platform, whose main objective is to promote health literacy among the elderly, is already in operation and will hold an online information session on February 24, at 15 pm, entitled “ Saúde em Dia”, which will debate the importance of vaccination against Covid-00.
The conversation includes the participation of Margarida Espírito Santo, pharmacist and professor at the University of Algarve, and Otília Mestre, nurse responsible for the Covid-19 vaccination at ACES Central Algarve. The moderation will be in charge of the project manager, Ricardo Valente Santos.
The information session is aimed at professionals and institutions in the health area, but is open to the general public through mandatory registration here.
Espaço Saúde 360º Algarve «aims to combat the social problem of illiteracy in health through a personalized approach, centered on the citizen and based on local partnerships and collaborations, such as municipalities, parishes, private social solidarity institutions, patient associations and other public and private entities in the social and health area».
At the moment, according to the Saúde em Dialogue Platform, «despite the pandemic situation and the confinement, it already has 40 beneficiaries, but the ambition for the next two years is to reach 500, extending the project to several parishes in the interior of the Algarve, so to boost the quality of life of the elderly and the community, especially outside large urban centers».
Project users, through the Individual Action Plan, «have access to a set of activities adapted to their needs, such as information sessions on health and disease prevention, nutrition sessions and workshops, navigation sessions on the health system, adapted physical activity and yoga».
Users also enjoy cognitive stimulation exercises, promotion of socio-emotional skills, meetings with patient associations, psychosocial assistance, sessions on medicine literacy and other health and well-being activities, already promoted by partner entities in the community.
Due to the pandemic and the confinement, the project activities are taking place at a distance, and for the elderly who do not have access to the internet or have digital literacy, the activities are sent by mail so that they can comply with the Individual Action Plan .
“We know that health illiteracy is a global social problem that impacts both citizens and health systems. There are several studies that have shown that an inadequate level of health literacy has implications for the use of health resources and services, namely with regard to a greater burden on the system, the increase in the prevalence and severity of some diseases. chronic, as well as a greater number of hospitalizations», says Rosário Zincke, president of Plataforma Saúde em Dialogue.
«The Algarve was one of the first regions in the country to host this project due to its geographical characteristics and the fact that health indicators foresee its need. We believe that together we can change this paradigm in an innovative way and adapted to the population», adds the official.
This initiative, which «is inspired by the guidelines and macro objectives defined in the Health Literacy Action Plan 2019-2021, of the General Directorate of Health, is aligned with the principles of social and territorial cohesion».
The Espaço Saúde 360º Algarve Project is supported by the Algarve Regional Operational Promotion Program (CRESC Algarve) and by Portugal Inovação Social, through European Union Funds.
Comments