THE FUTURE OF HEALTH COMMUNICATION INNOVATING THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS

The Preamble of the Constitution of the World Health Organization reminds us that "Informed opinion and active cooperation on the part of the public are of the utmost importance in the improvement of the health of the people" (Grad, 2002). Nonetheless, nearly seven decades later, the conditions under which people can be informed and actively participate in their health management in a meaningful way are being globally challenged. Drawing from experience in a variety of areas that I will delve into in this article, I remain a believer that we can marshal the necessary forces to advance the communication of health issues and create a base for a health-literate population to make smart(er), healthier decisions that advance health and well-being.