Prevention and health promotion: A strategy for linking academia with society

Abstract

Introduction: Health promotion, as defined by the WHO, aims to strengthen individual and community capacities to improve social, environmental, and economic conditions, achieving a comprehensive impact to prevent disease onset, slow its progression, and minimize its consequences. In Latin America, Primary Health Care (PHC) policies have been promoted since 1986, despite challenges related to equity and sustainability. In Ecuador, following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ten-Year Health Plan 2022-2031 was implemented as a public policy to establish objectives, strategies, and goals for improving population health. Aligned with this initiative, PUCESE has developed programs to promote health through its community outreach efforts. Method: This study employed a cross-sectional, descriptive, and retrospective analysis of data recorded in Excel, which included the total number of interventions and anonymized information about the project beneficiaries. Results: A total of 2,591 residents from northern communities in the province of Esmeraldas benefited from a single medical care intervention. This intervention identified key health conditions and facilitated the development of individualized and collective promotion and prevention measures tailored to the population’s needs. Conclusions: Community outreach initiatives strengthen public health policies and foster strategic partnerships to ensure access to basic services, reducing morbidity and mortality. Human-centered PHC enhances prevention and improves quality of life through integrated care networks. Moreover, promoting healthy habits and addressing social determinants of health are vital to combating poverty, inequality, and malnutrition, thereby contributing to the development of just and sustainable societies.