Naju-si, Jeonnam-do Integrated Health Promotion Project Performance Competition Best Institution

Naju City in Jeollanam-do was selected as the best institution for the integrated health promotion project in Jeollanam-do by striving to promote customized health promotion projects tailored to the health level improvement of its citizens.

The Naju City Public Health Center announced on the 21st that it was selected as the best institution at the '2023 Community Integrated Health Promotion Project Performance Competition' hosted by Jeollanam-do and organized by the Integrated Health Promotion Project Support Group, receiving the governor's commendation.

This performance competition comprehensively evaluated the operational achievements based on last year's integrated health promotion project plans for 22 cities and counties in the province, and presented and shared excellent cases from each local government.

The city health center established three main strategies: 'building infrastructure through cooperation and linkage with community resources,' 'creating a health-friendly environment,' and 'providing customized health promotion programs for target groups,' aiming to improve the low walking practice rate and obesity rate.

Accordingly, it promoted customized projects for adult obesity prevention and elderly health promotion such as the '12-Week Weight Loss Project,' 'Walking Challenge,' and 'Fall Prevention Exercise for Seniors,' receiving high evaluations.

In January this year, the health center signed a business agreement with the Naju City Physical Fitness Certification Center and the Bitgaram-dong Yeongmu Yedaeum Apartment Residents' Autonomy Committee to promote the resident-led 'Healthy Apartment' project, gaining great response from residents.

Using the Healthy Apartment as a base, the center operated an integrated health promotion booth once a month for residents of 2 to 3 nearby apartments, increasing accessibility to health promotion programs for adult disease prevention.

At the booth, free consultation and screening services related to eight areas of adult and elderly diseases?obesity prevention, oral health, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health, Korean medicine, smoking cessation, alcohol moderation, dementia, and mental health?were provided to approximately 1,000 cumulative visitors.

The health center also worked on creating a health-friendly environment by establishing health stairs inside the Naju City Senior Welfare Center and the health center building, and inspecting and repairing 29 walking guide signs.

Among 100 adult obese participants in the 12-Week Weight Loss Project, the average body fat percentage decreased by 2%, and about 1,500 citizens participated in the Walking Challenge, achieving a practice rate of 58%.

Since March, the fall prevention exercise for seniors, piloted in cooperation with the Korea Health Promotion Institute, combined strength and balance exercises with daily calisthenics, resulting in improvements in all six physical fitness measurement items including balance and flexibility for participating seniors.

Yun Byung-tae, mayor of Naju City, said, "The customized integrated health promotion projects by field for preventing chronic diseases such as adult and elderly obesity were selected as the best institution case in the province. We will discover and promote more diverse health promotion programs to help extend citizens' healthy life expectancy and foster proper lifestyle habits."

Naju = Kim Yukbong, Honam Reporting Headquarters, Asia Economy baekok@asiae.co.kr

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.