The Tenerife Cabildo is working on a new island-wide health strategy designed to get all 31 municipalities moving in the same direction.
The Island Strategic Framework for Health Prevention and Promotion, known as the MEP, will be the first document of its kind for Tenerife. The aim is to create a shared approach to health promotion, based on scientific evidence and adapted to the island’s specific needs.
Juan Acosta, head of Education for Prevention, said the strategy would “unify the foundations so all municipalities can work in the same direction”.
A sensible idea, really. Health issues rarely stop at the edge of a municipal boundary, so having different areas working from a common plan should make things a little less fragmented.
University of La Laguna to Lead the Research
A research team from the University of La Laguna and its General Foundation will prepare the document in collaboration with the Cabildo.
The process will combine scientific research with input from local communities and organisations, including the Insular Table and the Motor Group.
The MEP will examine Tenerife’s current health situation, review existing resources and programmes, identify gaps and establish priorities for future action.
Key Health Issues Under Review
The strategy will focus on several areas, including:
- Mental health.
- Addictions.
- Healthy lifestyles.
- Sedentary behaviour.
- Obesity.
- Sexually transmitted infections.
The intention is to provide institutions and organisations involved in health promotion with a common framework, helping them coordinate their efforts rather than working in isolation.
There is still work to do before the strategy is completed, but the project could provide a more consistent approach to prevention and health promotion across Tenerife.