Netherlands Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

In the Netherlands, prevention and early tracing of life-threatening and chronic diseases is accomplished by immunization and screening programs. Apart from classical prevention, government policy also aims at the improvement of public health.

The Dutch government lays down the broad outlines of activities for all parties concerned, provides starting points and support for their own actions. The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport is primarily responsible for development and execution of policies in the field of prevention.

In its publication ‘Public Health Status and Forecasts’, the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) reports at four-year-intervals on the health of the Dutch population and the outlook for the future.

On the basis of this report the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport determines what matters should have priority in its prevention policy. This is the fulfilment of the task set forth in the Public Health Collective Prevention Act to establish national priorities every four years in the area of collective prevention.

The cabinet's policy document on prevention treats a large number of subjects in the field of prevention that require action. They encompass three spearheads themes (smoking, obesity and diabetes) as the major risk factors of poor health, illness and premature death. The prevention policy document also focuses considerable attention on psychological symptoms and alcohol addiction.

NIGZ and life course approach

Youth

The EU sets as priority that young people become aware of their own health and think actively about improving their own health situation. NIGZ has extensive experience in youth health and activating young people by providing them with appropriate analytic tools, empowering them to make choices. NIGZ promotes an integrated approach of mental and physical health and social wellbeing. These activities take often place in schools (from primary school up to university level), but also in neighbourhoods, sports clubs and social clubs.

NIGZ is WHO collaboration centre for school health promotion and manages the secretariat of the Schools for Health in Europe (SHE) network, which unites 47 countries in the WHO-Euro region. The SHE network is for international exchange of experience and capacity building of schools. There is in the network a special emphasis on equity and tackling socio-economic determinants of health. NIGZ participates in international projects such as Health Education and Physical Activity in Schools, Toy Box, Boys and Girls, all aiming at improving health for young people. NIGZ also maintains contacts with developing countries to extend the school health promotion programmes.

Vulnerable groups

The EU wants to enhance participation of civilians in health promotion activities and reduce the inequities in health. NIGZ collaborates with local government organisations in the Netherlands and municipal health services to develop local health programmes for deprived groups. NIGZ is strong in health programmes for people with low health literacy levels, or for migrants with little understanding of the local language and health systems. The programmes that NIGZ assists developing, aim at improving participation of population groups in health programmes improving the literacy levels and social skills. At the same time, NIGZ has a strong expertise in communication by health professionals and is able to improve communication with deprived groups of people living in poverty or social isolation. NIGZ manages the secretariat of the Dutch National Alliance for Health Literacy.

Internationally, NIGZ participates in research projects into inequity in health, like Determine, the Gradient and Crossing Bridges. In the past in the project AIDS and Mobility it supported special groups in improving their health. NIGZ also participates in the European network for health literacy.

Ageing population

The EU aims at healthy ageing and longer participation of people in productive life to mitigate the effects of an ageing Europe.

NIGZ strengthens the implementation of healthy ageing projects in the Netherlands, especially for fragile and socially isolated elderly. It supports local governments in developing policies and programmes and works with member organisations of the elderly to develop social activation programmes. In this e-health takes a special place; NIGZ manages the biggest social network for elderly in the Netherlands, which brings tens of thousands of persons together. NIGZ also works with care groups to improve health promotion for chronically ill and enhance tertiary prevention.

In Europe NIGZ worked with the healthy ageing project, and currently in the AAL project for establishing e-health solutions throughout Europe. NIGZ works closely with EuroHealthNet in preparation for the Year of Healthy Ageing in 2012.

NIGZ in health promotion and prevention

Health promotion

The EU aims at strengthening the health of the people and protecting the population against health risks. The health institute NIGZ sees many opportunities for improving health of the people. Health promotion as core activity of NIGZ is taking place nearly everywhere in the society and involves a very wide range, from road safety, to clean drinking water and healthy food. Therefore, most of our work is in collaboration with other sectors, and not restricted to the health sector. In fact, most benefits from health improvement are felt in other sectors: people become more productive, more active students and more socially active elderly if they are healthy. Health and wellbeing are preconditions for social and economic development. NIGZ therefore works with organisations in workplace health, in environmental health, food safety or physical environment.

NIGZ is strong in sustainability and closely collaborates with organisations advocating corporate social responsibility for a greener future.

Curative care

The EU wants access to healthcare for all groups in society.

NIGZ is activity involved in programmes to enhance access to healthcare and in improving self-reliance of people. If people are able to take more charge of their own health affairs, they are able to benefit more from health services. It is very important to realise that many people do not have the essential health literacy to understand health information, communicate with health staff or take a proactive role in healthcare decisions concerning their own health. NIGZ is supporting organisations that train people in strengthening their own health literacy competencies. In the curative health care sector, NIGZ provides training to health care staff in recognising health literacy issues, in improving communication in the direct patient contacts and in written and audiovisual communication. NIGZ works closely with experts in Europe and the USA in further development of health literacy tools.

Chronically ill patients

The EU aims at improved access to care for chronically ill and more attention for informal care close to homes of patients. NIGZ works with organisations for fragile elderly people as part of health literacy programmes. NIGZ undertakes its e-health activities in close collaboration with patient groups, elderly associations and welfare organisations. NIGZ is developing networks for social support of people living in social isolation. It is working with organisations in strengthening the health promotion aspects of the chronic care model for patients.

NIGZ offer to clients

The health institute NIGZ is expert in implementation of health promotion.

It develops new health promotion programmes, translating scientific knowledge in to policy and practice. It works closely with clients in developing custom made programmes. NIGZ is a strong advocate for evidence based public health, but rejects blueprint approaches. Local circumstances demand locally acceptable and feasible solutions. For local planning NIGZ developed the reference framework (www.refka.nl) which provides essential tools for quality assurance in health promotion programmes, and Preffi for quality of planning smaller projects.

NIGZ is expert in maintenance of health promotion programmes through networking and exchange and capacity building. NIGZ has training programmes, applying principles of blended learning. Co-creation with clients is crucial for this. NIGZ developed an internet community www.wingeZ.nl for facilitating exchange between professionals in public health. Internationally NIGZ facilitates exchange, especially in the Schools for Health in Europe programme.

NIGZ collaborates in national and international research. Often NIGZ implements action-research, whereby the results are immediately fed back for policy development and adjustments in implementation of organisations. NIGZ works with EuroHealthNet in international research projects like Determine, Gradient and Crossing Bridges.

Opting for a healthy life, Public Health policy in the Netherlands 2007-2010: This public health policy document - published by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport -  lays down the broad outlines of the public health  policy for the period from 2007 to 2010. The title deliberately puts the emphasis on the ability to choose. Not only can an individual choose between a healthy and an unhealthy lifestyle, but – more than ever  before – healthcare workers can also put more emphasis on promoting the healthy option to their clients. In this policy document the State also chooses: to focus prevention policy for the coming four years on five priorities and to put the emphasis on healthy living.  For the full report, please click on NOTA or FOLDER at the website Ministery VWS.

Preffi 2.0: Health promotion effect management instrument : development, validity, reliability and usability, a thesis by Gerard Molleman. - Woerden: NIGZ, 2005.
More information at theNIGZ site. There is also a French version available. 

Healthy Ageing - a Challenge for Europe. This report presents an overview of interventions on ageing and health. It includes suggested recommendations to decision makers, NGOs and practitioners on how to get into action to promote healthy ageing among the growing number of older people. It also presents different countries' policy/strategies for older people's health. Both report and summary are available in PDF at the NIGZ site.

Further information on the work of NIGZ can be obtained from www.NIGZ.nl.

Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS)

Statistics Netherlands (CBS)

National Institute for Public Health and the Environment RIVM

Health Promotion Institute NIGZ

Netherlands Institute for Sport and Physical Activity (NISB)

TRIMBOS Institute

STIVORO for a smoke-free future

Vilans

MOVISIE

The Netherlands Youth Institute (NJi)

Netherlands Nutrition Centre (St.Voedingscentrum Nederland)

Consumer Safety Institute (CSI)

Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG)

National Association of Municipal Health Authority Services (GGD Nederland)