Health promotion and prevention focus on being healthy, staying healthy and becoming healthy. Health refers to physical as well as mental and social well-being. In practice, the aim is to strengthen people's health resources and minimize risk factors. To this end, it is not only the behavior of the individual that is important, but also the creation of health-promoting structures and living conditions.

In the canton of St.Gallen, the Office for Preventive Health Care is tasked with actively promoting the health of the population.

IN THE SERVICE OF HEALTH

The Office of Public Health motivates the population to adopt healthy behavior and is committed to promoting healthy conditions in the canton. We are also responsible for the implementation of federal and cantonal legislation. These include, for example, cantonal vaccination programs, the school medical service and youth protection measures in the area of alcohol and tobacco. To achieve our goals, we work together with healthcare providers as well as public and private institutions and organizations such as municipalities, schools and companies. Our topics are wide-ranging and include protection against communicable diseases, early detection programs, fall prevention in old age, exercise and nutrition, health promotion in the workplace, mental health and addiction prevention.