Libro II · Título I Capítulo I. Definicion de acciones

For the purposes of this Code, the following are considered:

a)Health Promotion Actions, are all those actions aimed at fostering the normal physical, mental and social development of the individual, the family, the community, as well as the preservation of healthy environments, which shall be executed by the State, institutions of the Sector and the community itself.

b)Health Prevention Actions, are those actions carried out by the Sector and other sectors, directed at the control and eradication of the diseases affecting the population of the country.

Promotion and prevention actions shall be directed at interrupting the epidemiological chain of diseases both at the level of the environment and of the protection, diagnosis and early treatment of the susceptible population:

a)Health promotion actions shall be directed at maintaining and improving the level of health, through the adoption of healthy lifestyles with emphasis on personal care, physical exercise, adequate diet and nutrition, the preservation of healthy environments and avoiding the use of substances harmful to health. The Ministry of Health in coordination with the institutions of the sector shall establish the necessary mechanisms for society as a whole, individuals, families and communities to participate actively.

b)Health prevention actions shall comprise the establishment of epidemiological surveillance systems, immunizations, early detection and treatment of cases, health education and other relevant measures to achieve control of endemic, emerging and recurrent diseases, especially those non-emerging with potential to produce epidemic outbreaks.

c)In relation to the environment, promotion and prevention actions shall seek access by the population, with emphasis on the most disadvantaged, to drinking water services, adequate elimination and disposal of excreta, adequate disposal of solid waste, food hygiene, reduction of environmental pollution.