PRESS RELEASE."Delivering a social revolution in health and wellbeing"
PRESS RELEASE
"Delivering a social revolution in health and wellbeing"
Global Social Prescribing Alliance (GSPA)
Thriving Together
SDG3 Good Health & Wellbeing
WHIS, UNGSII, NASP, WHO
A global health alliance dedicated to raising awareness of social prescribing by forming alliances, working with others and sharing innovative approaches to “Enable thriving communities to deliver a social revolution in their health and wellbeing while generating value”.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has pushed the world’s health systems, health workforce (We face a 18m shotfall by 2030 BMJ), social and political systems to their limits, and sometimes beyond. It has also exposed underlying health inequality and the fragility of some systems. However, the response across the world to the COVID-19 pandemic has also demonstrated the amazing achievements that are possible when governments, communities and people work together against common challenges. We have seen astonishing examples of high quality healthcare delivery in extremely challenging circumstances, and the resilience of governments, healthcare systems and people. In a world operating beyond the pandemic, traditional approaches to health and wellbeing might no longer be enough.
The Global Social Prescribing Alliance is a group of worldwide partners who recognise that what keeps us well is more than medicine. The Alliance’s vision is to: “Enable thriving communities to deliver a social revolution for their health and wellbeing while generating value”. Its mission is to establish a global working group dedicated to the advancement of social prescribing through promotion, collaboration and innovation. The Alliance’s work supports the implementation of UN sustainable development goal 3 – “good health and wellbeing”.
The global alliance will champion social prescribing and the work of local communities in connecting people by focusing on Six main areas of work:
1) Creating a Universal Narrative for redefining health and wellbeing through ‘rethinking medicine’, ‘personalised care’, and ‘social prescribing’ in support of SDG3 Good Health & Wellbeing.
2) Delivering clinical leadership through the development of a global network of clinical champions.
3) Creating innovative Community Development approaches focussed on existing assets and sustainable financial structures (economic model).
4) Implementing the Building Blocks for Social Prescribing and developing the five zones: Arts - Nature - Exercise - Knowledge and Wisdom.
5) Creating Workforce Solutions for healthcare institutions via new platforms.
6) Harnessing Digital Solutions to enhance information and meaning.
This will be a unique global health initiative that would allow us to move forward during COVID19 and build back stronger by providing capacity for our citizens health and wellbeing in the future.
“The opportunity exists to create a model of healthcare that creates value based on prevention. Early intervention by using different types of resources that will enable people and communities to thrive and improve their health and wellbeing. We can support existing health services, create new and meaningful jobs while supporting the implementation of the UN 17 sustainable development goals.” Gareth Presch, CEO, World Health Innovation Summit
“The international growth of Social Prescribing creates an opportunity for a revolution in the delivery of health and wellbeing support. We have seen the huge benefits that come from supporting people, based on what matters to them, to connect with their communities through our work in England, and connecting with global partners to share learning and build an allied movement is an exciting next step.”
James Sanderson,CEO National Academy of Social Prescribing
“Art is a way to foster the implementation of social prescribing services because art is the creation of meaning through stories, images, sounds, performances and other methods that enable people to communicate to others their experience of and feelings about their well-being specifically confidence and hope. It is a way to facilitate resilience of people and their self-awareness about the importance of their health. Art invites us to care for all beneficiaries specifically the most vulnerable and marginalized, to inspire cohesion between different innovative or under-reached initiatives with strong and sustainable impacts at country level”
Isabelle WACHSMUTH, World Health Organization, Art Impact For Health Initiative, Universal Health Coverage and Life Course Division
"This is a promising alliance for all, who want to see change in place : more focus on prevention. The Arts, quality food, access to forests can help save billions in national health budgets. And provide concrete action options for families and friends. On all continents."
Roland Schatz, CEO, UNGSII Foundation
The Alliance will be formally launched on the 25th February 2021 @1pm GMT - LIVE stream
