[Health promotion: convergence between the principles of health surveillance and socially responsible schools]

Abstract

The authors discuss the convergence between health surveillance and socially responsible schools from a health promotion perspective in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The aim of health promotion strategies is to provide the population with the necessary means to improve their health. One of the explanatory paradigms for health surveillance is the social production of health, acknowledging the influence of living conditions on the population's health. The main thrust of schools that promote citizenship is social inclusion, achieved through education by recognizing the needs and possibilities of students and empowering citizens by raising awareness of their rights and duties. The convergence between health surveillance and socially responsible schools is demonstrated in four fields of health promotion: development of personal capacities by providing information and health education to empower people for healthier choices; strengthening of community action for better health; creation of health-friendly public and private environments; and construction of healthy public policies, involving both government and nongovernmental organizations.