Health and the Role of Active Citizen in Maintaining a Disease-Free Environment

This essay highlights the significance of health and the role of active citizen in maintaining a disease-free environment by performing their social job in a corrective manner. It discusses the importance of active citizen in controlling the probabilities of dangerous disease occurrence and creating awareness amongst the overall community.

CITIZENSHIP, COMMUNITY AND
WELFARE (LC564)
Health and active citizen

INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Health and the active citizen..............................................................................................1
CONCLUSION...............................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Health is a term which characterized a state by anatomic, physiologic and
psychological integrity of a person and it’s an ability of a person to accomplish
personally value family work or community roles as well as shows the potentiality to
deal with physical, biological and social stress. It’s a most important aspect of human
being as every individual want to live a disease free life by doing various efforts such as;
exercise that comes under physical activity, day-to-day work, professional jobs for
reducing stress, involving in entertaining activities for mental happiness and so on.
Therefore, main objective of this essay is to highlight the significance of health and role
of active citizen in maintaining a disease free environment by performing their social job
in corrective manner. Moreover, report is also covering a range of facts which shows the
importance of active citizen in controlling the probabilities of dangerous disease
occurrence. Hence, foremost motive is to throw significant lights on citizen
responsibilities in maintaining a healthy environment by creating awareness amongst
overall community with corrective data circulation.
Health and the active citizen
In the current scenario, health is basically an important state of a complete
physical, mental and social well-being. However, it does not only relate to the disease,
but the ability to recover back from any specific illness is a key factor. Similarly, active
citizen tends to a philosophy supported by an organization as well as educational
agency that advocates their members of any charitable trust as well as any other nation
to have certain roles towards the society development. It has been seen that active
citizen can have plenty of work to perform in order to improve the lives of various people
living in the society. They tend to contribute to several social justices in its community
through taking relevant action on a specific health issues in respect to make a
difference (Singh and et.al., 2012). However, to become an active citizen, it means that
being an important person the primary motive is to assist individual as well as the entire
society. The person can treat themselves by following their own rights such as eating
healthy foods and avoid harm to their body by not using illegal drugs.
Moreover, people can also assist their society, town or nation by identifying the
needs assistance for the required people those are suffering from some kind of disease
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of critical illness. Another important aspect of a good citizen is to become a strong
person with a great belief that all men and women were equal in the same eyes of god.
Modern scholar defines, citizenship as an individual that is having an idea to deal with
various health problems that are affecting the entire community and take specific
measure to remain protected at the time of any epidemic (Curtis-Robles and et.al.,
2015) . In the logical manner, the voluntary condition by an individual citizen is more
common by participating in any civil duty by engagement within activity such as public
and private firms. The health is generally related with the promoting good health as well
as reduces risk of harmful disease by using a holistic approach. It will take into account
various factors that consist of physical as well as emotional implication on both
individual and community.
According to Garthwaite, 2017, the active citizen could be considered as a small
as campaign that help in cleaning up their street or as huge as educating young people
regarding their democratic values, ability and participation. They play active role
towards healthy societies especially in new democratic counties such as Hungary. They
always ready to serve the country with their valuable efforts because in case of any
emergency situation arises in the country because of health related problems. The
primary role of active citizen is to provide their full cooperation with each individual that
need some kind of assistance to fight with these problems. However, promoting a wide
participation in an effective decision-making can helps in developing a strong trust in
society. The skills and knowledge tend to carry a specific role in the motivating the
people towards hygiene and other valuable factors that are helpful in removing the
critical health problems.
In the viewpoint of Van Eijk and Steen, 2014, with the growing focus on effective
relationship between health and aging. This concept tends of focus on encouraging the
participation of old age people living in the society as well as it recognizes the core
competence that they possess during their entire life span. The combination of a longer
life as well other social changes is reshaping the stage in the current situation. This has
incurred distinct features among the citizen toward their health. By educating them with
a valuable measures and make the society aware regarding their positive aspects.
However, it has been seen that present generation is moving towards a deep cycle of
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unhealthy situation that are creating lots of health related problems such as cancer,
Viruses and incurable disease. These types of health problems are having huge
implication on the people health as well as on the entire society. The government has
taking lot of action in order to provide better cure in the form of medicine to overcome
the problems effectively from the country.
For instance, many organizations such as Oxfam and NHS are working
continuously to guide people toward the right path to take proper care in order to survive
for a longer period. On the other hand, a National group is also operating for the
common goal that consists of clean-up process. They are responsible for providing all
kind of effective measure that can help the society as well as the country to clean their
areas so that chances of disease can be avoided. Being an active citizen, it is foremost
responsibility to have maximum faith towards their society as well as keep assisting it to
develop the economy stronger (Curtis-Robles and et.al., 2015). The agenda for public
health in many countries consists of epidemiological transition, environmental change
and social determinants of health. There is an argument that, it is an urgent call for
revitalizing primary health care in respect to fulfil critical health illness. The role of
government is to determine the implication of health on the entire population. This essay
guides in an effective health system, HR development as well as capacity to develop a
specific regulation in public health. However, this practice related to health and active
citizen has been more dynamic in UK and other countries. It has witnessed various
hurdles in their attempts to affect the lives of different people living in the country. There
are certain silent epidemics that are huge impact on the overall nation that results in
loss of several deaths. Mental and neurological disorders could also have wide burden
of disease and illness among various people. Moreover, health system is grapple with
the effects of current communicable as well as non-communicable disease. But
because of not having sufficient amount of financial resources for the health sectors that
would results in inequalities in health sectors (Winter and et.al., 2016).
This review is primarily concern with the evidence related to the public health
both at macro and micro level. Patient and citizen tend to take active parts in present
scenario that results in overall promotion of sustainable healthcare. With the proper
involvement efforts has assist in creating various diverse ethical challenges that have
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major potential to increase the chance of success in the future. At the international level,
plenty of efforts have been associated with the patient and citizen in taking active
decision in the areas of health. This extent is evident in the work of WHO that refers to
commitment in the respect of primary care as well as public healthcare. However,
people tend to have specific duty and responsibility to take active participation in the
overall planning of their healthcare. The importance of active citizen is associated with
the sustainable change in public health which is promoted in a wide number of WHO
documents (Murray, Tshabangu and Erlank, 2010).
Ewert, B. and Evers, A., 2014, says that it is valuable aspects for the citizen to
take active part in the overall decision in promoting a better standard in front of the
entire nation. It has argued here that in the present form the most effective aspects of
health ethics do not serve active participation initiatives in a well-organize manner. The
efforts made with the combined efforts of people engagement in health practices as well
as policy could involve people to become healthier and sustain their life effectively for a
longer period.
As per the opinion of ANDREJ NOSKO & KATALIN SZEGER, 2013, an active
citizen of Britain is involving in several local communities as well as on every levels of
democracy that is; towns to cities to accomplish entire national activities. At the same
time, individuals whose are active towards social tasks are always small in size just like
a campaign for cleaning up the local street or sometime it can be a large educated
youngster whose are involved in democratic values, skills or involvement. In fact, it’s a
most significant step towards developed community specially in those nations whose
are new for democracies such as; Hungary. It has been observed that, foundation of
Kurt Lewin has organized one and half yearlong investigation and growth events in
distinct four schools and autonomous citizenship. Mainly, students whose are of age
group of 17 to 19 years and teachers are taking part in research process for examining
the area as well as influence of active citizenship, social and political behaviours in
education. Simply, citizenship is a cluster of knowledge, skills and actions whose main
objective is to give contribution in establishment of independent society which are free
from health issues (O'Donovan, MacPhail and Kirk, 2010). Interestingly, it is analysed
that thrilling solutions are in demand when it’s a matter of Europe’s issues. In this
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circumstances, active members of nations are playing significant role by interrogating a
best or appropriate solutions to specific social issues instead of getting indulged in
discrimination and other tactics which are set by extremists. Consequently, author has
mentioned that educational events requisite to enhanced for improving the
competencies level such as; co-operation, communication and working in order to
maximize the critical ability, tolerance power as well as bring openness towards
diversification (Newman and Tonkens, 2011).
On the other hand, it has been identified that there is a difference between
definition of active members in various nations and cultures such as; specially in
Germany and west German cities, civil societies and political bodies are establishing
thanks for active citizenship groups. This shows that, Germany government is
supporting and encouraging common people to be active for protecting entire nation
from dangerous risk that might related to any factor such as; health issue, economic
downturn, social problem, technology absence and so on. In this nation, exclusionary
and extremist people are convicted by various influential associations (Kotkas, 2010). It
means, Germany is having a very strong professional support, legal and financial too
which are promoting younger generation towards public industry for overall national
growth. Additionally, there is a collaboration between civil enterprises and political
parties for running social programmes which will help in overcoming major risk of
human beings. Hence, it has been understood that, active citizenship is having a great
potentiality to convert the worst condition of nation to developed or much better by
creating awareness amongst entire country (Power, Lord and DeFranco, 2013).
Theory of citizen involvement- It’s a procedure which is offering a great
opportunity to private individuals for influencing the decision of public and become a
long term component of democratic decisional process. Basically, origin of citizen
engagement was traced to ancient Greece and Colonial New England because before
the era of 1960s only governmental bodies are responsible for designing a procedure
for facilitating extrinsic participation. But, after 1960s, participation of common people
was institutionalized by the President Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society programs. This
shows that, involving a public is ensuring that active members of community are having
direct voice in decisions of overall society. As a result, public are taking part in every
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judgment which is really a beneficial Act because this initiative has given an opportunity
to common people that they are having an authority to raise their voice for their
betterment instead of just following the set rules of government. By this step, common
public and government involved in a common alliance for resolving the social issues
such as; modern world is full of inappropriate activities due to which there is a lots of
dangerous diseases has been raised which resultant into increase in death rate (Kivelä,
2018). Therefore, public and government both are supporting each other in the
presence of dangerous health problems by taking collaborative initiatives such as;
imposing a curfew over the nation for controlling the probability of future occurrence,
preventing others whose are safe, reducing the rate of dangerous disease, create a
time for inventing anti-biotic for any death taking health issues henceforth. Thus, it is
essential to promote active citizenship over the global pace because this coalition is
highly beneficial in reducing the probabilities of dangerous health issues because
togetherness is a key to success. For example; currently whole world is encountering a
major health epidemic which has increased the death rate at a fastest way named as
Corona-Virus. Hence, for controlling the infection of this dangerous disease, public and
government come closer to take immediate steps in order to solve the situations by
making instant vaccine of this life taking issue (Sépulchre and Lindqvist, 2016).
Generally, number of roles need to performed by active citizenship members such as;
inform the unaware public about the effects, way of getting rid from danger health
problem, bring awareness amongst society about the importance of cleanliness,
directing entire society towards corrective path and many more. All these activities of an
active member of nation convert into major advantageous situations such as; control the
possibilities of infection, protect the future of nation, develop a sense of awareness,
motivate other to be strong, passes the message as much as and so on. It means that,
active citizenship is a most glimmering subject matter for economic, social and global
development as it directs the whole nation or world towards ethical or right path through
which number of probable issues can automatically get eliminated (Mackenzie, Bennett
and Cairney, 2011).
It is an essential to review wide theories of decision making structures while
discussing the approach of public involvement. According to DeSario and Langton,
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decisional process explores the role of technology in a judgment process of public
policies as it has been summarized by author that relations of public members are
increasingly affected by technology. There are mainly, two broad structures of decision
making has been explained or analysed one is technocratic framework and the
democratic one. Mainly, technocratic theory is defined as an application of technical
knowledge, techniques and tools for resolving the problems related to judgement. On
the other hand, democracy is explained by DeSario and Langton which shows the
involvement of publics or active citizens in activities related to government planning or
policy designing (Verhoeven and Tonkens, 2013).
Furthermore, there is one ladder which shows the citizen involvement in public policies
known as “The Ladder of Citizen Participation” (Figure 1).
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From the above diagrammatic representation, it has been understood that ladder
of active member covers eight different steps which is classified into three different
sections such as; non-participation, degrees of tokenism and degree of citizen power.
These stages are showing the phases from which a person become an active member
of public by getting involved in various social activities in order prevent the society from
various complications like; health issues. It begins from manipulation stage in which a
person gets manipulated by other opinions whether it’s a politician, supported of social
services or any one (Fisher, 2012). Secondly, therapy is taking place by involving in
various programmes, events related to society and try to accumulate more or more
information about it. After that, person get informed by specific roles or related activities
for moving towards consultation process and then there is a stage where conciliation
take place. Now, manipulated person has get involved in an active programme by
becoming a partners with others and shared a delegated power while performing
distinct social events in context with community benefits. At the end, there is a stage
comes where active member is in control of common citizens by working for them and
acting according to their need or requirement. Simply, becoming an active citizen or
member for performing social activity related to health, individual has gone through
certain phases in order to get fully convinced for selected area (The Theory of Citizen
Participation, 2003).
Throughout the assessment, it is identified that activeness amongst social groups
are really best initiatives for resolving the major problems which is influencing the
growth of nation. As, involvement of diverse groups aids in identifying best solutions for
risky situations as every individual is having some uniqueness and talent that might
support in elimination of problem (Gaynor, 2011).
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it has been summarized that an active citizen is playing
significant role in managing various health issues and resolve it as soon as possible by
taking instant initiatives. However, entire report is revolving around the role which is
played by an active member for overcoming the various social problems whether its
related to health or any other. In fact, it is important for youngsters to take part in
societal growth and development for enhancing the country by coming up with creative
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ideas. As everyone knows those youngsters are having a very sharp mind and they are
having a potentiality to come up with best solutions for life taking epidemic. Hence, this
project has proven that active citizens are really significant for government support
because togetherness is a best approach which is used for reducing any dangerous
public issues.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
 Newman, J. and Tonkens, E., 2011. Participation, responsibility and choice:
Summoning the active citizen in western European welfare states. [Amsterdam]
Amsterdam University Press.
 Curtis-Robles, R., and et.al., 2015. Combining public health education and
disease ecology research: using citizen science to assess Chagas disease
entomological risk in Texas. PLoS neglected tropical diseases. 9(12).
 Ewert, B. and Evers, A., 2014. An Ambiguous concept: on the meanings of co-
production for health care users and user organizations?. VOLUNTAS:
International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations. 25(2). pp.425-
442.
 Garthwaite, K., 2017. ‘I feel I'm giving something back to society’: constructing
the ‘active citizen’and responsibilising foodbank use. Social Policy and
Society. 16(2). pp.283-292.
 Singh, G., and et.al., 2012. Towards designing for equity: active citizen
participation in eHealth. Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy.
 Van Eijk, C.J. and Steen, T.P., 2014. Why people co-produce: Analysing citizens’
perceptions on co-planning engagement in health care services. Public
Management Review. 16(3). pp.358-382.
 Winter, S.J., and et.al., 2016. Using citizen scientists to gather, analyze, and
disseminate information about neighborhood features that affect active
living. Journal of immigrant and minority health. 18(5). pp.1126-1138.
 Kotkas, T., 2010. Governing health and social security in the twenty-first century:
active citizenship through the right to participate. Law and Critique, 21(2),
pp.163-182.
 Power, A., Lord, J. and DeFranco, A., 2013. Active citizenship and disability:
Implementing the personalisation of support. Cambridge University Press.
 Kivelä, S., 2018. Active citizenship, public sector and the markets: Freedom of
choice as a state project in health care. Geoforum, 91, pp.160-169.
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 Sépulchre, M. and Lindqvist, R., 2016. Enhancing active citizenship for persons
with psychosocial disabilities. Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, 18(4),
pp.316-327.
 Mackenzie, C., Bennett, A. and Cairney, M., 2011. Active citizenship and
acquired neurological communication difficulty. Disability and
Rehabilitation, 33(3), pp.187-194.
 Verhoeven, I. and Tonkens, E., 2013. Talking active citizenship: Framing welfare
state reform in England and the Netherlands. Social Policy and Society, 12(3),
pp.415-426.
 Fisher, P., 2012. Ethics in qualitative research:‘Vulnerability’, citizenship and
human rights. Ethics and Social Welfare, 6(1), pp.2-17.
 Gaynor, N., 2011. In-Active citizenship and the depoliticization of community
development in Ireland. Community Development Journal, 46(1), pp.27-41.
 O'Donovan, T.M., MacPhail, A. and Kirk, D., 2010. Active citizenship through
sport education. Education 3–13, 38(2), pp.203-215.
 Murray, J., Tshabangu, B. and Erlank, N., 2010. Enhancing participatory
governance and fostering active citizenship: an overview of local and
international best practices. Politikon, 37(1), pp.45-66.
Online
 ANDREJ NOSKO & KATALIN SZEGER, 2013. Active Citizenship Can Change
Your Country For the Better. [Online]. Available
through<https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/voices/active-citizenship-can-
change-your-country-better >
 The Theory of Citizen Participation, 2003. [Online]. Available through<
https://pages.uoregon.edu/rgp/PPPM613/class10theory.htm>.
Appendix
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Figure 1 The Ladder of Citizen Participation
(Source: - The Theory of Citizen Participation, 2003)
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