Health

Creating more healthy years

Exercise, nutrition and mental health: three key factors in prevention.

(Bild: Rudi Wyhlidal)

The state of Vorarlberg's new health strategy focuses on prevention and projects - with more money available for this purpose.

More healthy years of life for the citizens of Vorarlberg - that is the goal of the Vorarlberg Health Promotion and Prevention Strategy 2024-2030, which was presented on Monday. "To achieve this, we must motivate people to lead a healthy lifestyle and recognize illnesses early on," said Governor Markus Wallner.

Health promotion is also an important building block in overcoming the challenges in the healthcare system.

Gesundheits-Landesrätin Martina Rüscher (ÖVP)

The revised strategy from 2013 was based on the Vorarlberg Health Report 2022, which found that Vorarlberg residents - regardless of gender - spend 15 of their life years in illness. Efforts are focused on reducing this figure. "The value of health is often only recognized when you no longer have it," said Health Minister Rüscher. The aim is to support the population in starting earlier. Exercise, nutrition and mental health have emerged as the most important fields of action. A total of 20 strategic goals were formulated based on the Austrian health goals.

Health promotion fund
In order to implement the strategy, significantly more funding has been available for health promotion programs and projects since this year. The health promotion fund in Vorarlberg comprises around 1.8 million euros per year instead of the previous 680,000 euros. In addition, there is direct funding from the individual departments in the Office of the Provincial Government for individual health promotion projects. "Today is a kick-off for us. We are inviting people to submit projects," said Provincial Councillor Martina Rüscher (ÖVP), addressing institutions and associations.

All age groups should benefit from the projects, but especially children and young people - this is also due to the state's goal of becoming the most opportunity-rich living space for children by 2035. Rüscher said that the goal of increasing the vaccination rate would be achieved by maintaining the country's vaccination coordination set up during the Covid pandemic. There are also plans to carry out more school vaccinations again, although the decision on vaccinations will continue to be made by parents.