The philosophy of the West Elgin Community Health Centre includes the understanding that health is more than just the absence of illness or disease. We believe that wellness includes the opportunity and ability to take part in maintaining your health and to make informed choices. You are a partner in your own health and well-being.
West Elgin Community Health Centre also believes in Health Promotion based on the Determinants of Health and focuses on providing programs and services that address those outside forces that affect your health. Helping you to stay healthy is our priority!
Guiding Principles
- Health is much more than the absence of disease. It is a resource for living that includes a sense of physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social well-being.
- Good Health depends on the Determinants of Health. They are: food, housing, education, income, peace and justice, physical environment, healthy child development and social supports.
- Health is everyone’s responsibility. All sectors of society take part in influencing the determinants of health including levels of government, community and health agencies, community groups and individuals.
- People have a responsibility to take charge of their own health to the greatest extent possible. Health Promotion works best when individuals, groups and communities come together to identify, develop, deliver and evaluate activities related to improving their own well-being.
Health Promotion is value based. Health Promotion values: respectful and honest communication, full participation, collective action, mutual respect, integrity, inclusion and enabling people and communities to be in control of the things that make them healthy.
