People of ‘like purpose’- join us in celebrating 60 years of work in health promotion and education

Although none of us know what the new year will hold, I sincerely hope that despite the continuation of the Coronavirus pandemic and the challenges of inequity in health around the world, that 2022 is a year of good health and positivity for us all. Certainly, here at the Institute of Health Promotion and Education, we are looking forward to some celebration in 2022, as we mark 60 years of the Institute’s activity and work.

The Institute was originally named, the ‘Institute of Health Education’ and was founded in 1962 by amongst others, Frank Rowntree, then Health Education Officer for Sheffield, UK. The first patron was The Right Hon. The Lord Cohen of Birkenhead who wrote in the first edition of this Journal that ‘ … it is encouraging to know that those engaged in the field of health education now feel the time is ripe to establish an Institute, which will provide through its seminars, conferences, discussions and lecturers that men and women of like purpose will be able to meet, exchange views and benefit from the experience of others … ’ (1963, p1). During each year since this was written, those activities have continued to be undertaken by the Institute. Of course, with the arrival of digital technologies, in addition to the printed journal and the provision of face-to-face conferences and seminars, we now have the electronic version of the Journal, electronic newsletters, dissemination of information from the Institute through our website and via twitter and LinkedIn and the potential for virtual meetings and conferences. Indeed, the world does look different from the one our founders and patron were familiar with. At the time of the Institutes’ launch, the Moon landings had not yet taken place, John. F. Kennedy was President of the USA, Queen Elizabeth was 36 years old and had been on the throne for just 10 years, Nelson Mandela was arrested and given a life sentence and the Beatles first recording was released. For the newly set up Institute, there were many health issues of the early 1960s which were topical in the UK. These included the implementation of immunisations particularly the recently developed polio vaccine, contraception in the offer of pills for birth control, aspects of mental health as ‘Valium’ an anti-anxiety drug went on the market and recognition of the impact of smoking on health. Interesting to note that these are still some of the key areas of interest for health promoters and educators today.

However, since the 1960s we know full well the advancements that have been made in promoting health in our own countries and around the world, especially surrounding some of the issues identified in the 1960s. Here in the UK, for example, smoking was banned in all enclosed public spaces in 2007 and according to Bauld (2011, p8) in a Department of Health funded report, the number of hospital admissions for myocardial infarction following implementation of the legislation resulted in ‘1,200 fewer emergency admissions for heart attacks in the first year … ’. This is supported by the World Health Organisation (2021, p64) report that identifies that legislation similar to this around the world ‘reduces hospital admissions for acute coronary syndrome and reduced mortality for smoking related illness’. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (2005) holds 168 signatories of member states who support the strategy which focusses on reducing the demand and the supply of tobacco and which helped member states to tackle this issue. In addition, the lobbying and influencing of law makers by organisations and individuals active in health promotion and education supported this change.

It is clear then that people of ‘like-purpose’ are still needed to influence organisations, educate communities and support change for health improvement. Therefore, I hope that you will consider joining the Institute this year and help in celebrating 60 years of activity. Please check our website [ihpe.org.uk] for information on joining IHPE and for details of information and activities in 2022 to support efforts to enhance the health and wellbeing of people in your locality.

All good wishes for 2022,

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest were reported by the author.