Health determinants: the importance for education

Presently, racial discrimination, prejudice, and intolerance in every form and manifestation, are a priority for the community at large and for health and education professionals in particular. The vulnerable position of migrant groups is particularly serious and complex for children since they belong to families that have left their country of origin and have to cope with many difficulties, in particular the differences in language, customs and culture, economic and social status, and loss of family references, among other numerous obstacles and challenges. Education is an imperative for the civilizational evolution necessary to create and expand a care network that addresses the situation of disadvantaged populations. Several important efforts have been performed in order to better integrate these groups (Duffield, 2007). However, these measures have often been the focus of social tensions with school and health implications. Education at every level and every age, in particular human rights education, is essential for changing attitudes and behaviors. It constitutes a determining factor for the promotion, dissemination and protection of values, for combating all forms of discrimination and prejudice, for the promotion of tolerance and respect for diversity in society. (Duffield, 2007). The importance of education, of the stimulation and the follow-up of children by trained professionals in quality educational and health units must be highlighted. One can achieve, through the action of teachers, health professionals and other sectors of the community, to capacitate children to understand the needs and experiences of others and participate in meaningful experiences that uphold the ideals of social justice. Health is not limited to the absence of pathology but, above all, to a state of physical, mental and social wellbeing. Health promotion aims to strengthen the individuals' abilities and capacities (empowerment), to change the social, environmental and economic conditions in order to give more control over their health and better quality of life. In this context, the need for nursing professionals and other social agent to organize in networks to provide universal health coverage that favors the access to education and training emerges. The International Council of Nurses (ICN), cited by the Nurses' Order, considers nurses to be well placed to intervene in different contexts, in tandem with diverse social actors and population groups (OE, 2012). Nurses' activity can be developed under different institutional contexts, namely homes, schools, the community, with immigrants, refugees or any other local or national health priorities. Nurses assist individuals, families or communities, and can intervene through programs of health promotion or maintenance, taking into consideration the influence of the social reality on healthcare. This intervention is of primordial importance for the empowerment of individuals, families and communities, for raising social justice awareness and social impact over individual health.