The voluntary sector plays a vital role in the health care system. See the Health Care Network for a detailed look at health care issues, including links to many sites outside Health Canada. Perspectives Provided from the National Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating . Health Promotion is a strategy for improving the health of the population by providing individuals, groups and communities with the tools to make informed decisions about their well-being. Moving beyond the traditional treatment of illness and injury, health promotion efforts are centred primarily on the social, physical, economical and political factors that affect health, and include such activities as the promotion of physical fitness, healthy living and good nutrition.
Emphasis is placed on collaborative work with other sectors.
One aspect of health promotion, prevention, and protection focusses on the factors that affect Canada's aging population. This involves maintaining a good quality of life and preventing disability. Those communities which encourage, enhance and promote the overall health and well-being of all citizens. For further information on healthy communities see the Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition Website . With its main objectives of increasing recognition of volunteers, facilitation, networking and promotion of volunteering, the International Year of Volunteers 2001 will provide an opportunity to highlight the achievements of the millions of volunteers worldwide and to encourage more people globally to engage in volunteer activity.