Healthy Society: Perspectives on Impact of COVID, Healthy Ageing & Health Equity

The concept of healthy society is all routed in social values. All people among society should be valued equally. What is healthy society? The society, in which individuals and communities are able to live, works, and plays in a way that promotes physical, mental, and social well-being. In a healthy society, all people have access to resources and services that support healthy lifestyles, including nutritious food, safe and affordable housing, quality healthcare, and opportunities for physical activity and recreation etc. In a healthy society, there is a shared commitment to promoting health and well- being, and individuals and communities are empowered to take an active role in their own health and well-being. This includes having access to accurate and reliable health information, being able to make informed choices about their health, and being supported in their efforts to maintain or improve their health. A healthy society also values and prioritizes the health and well-being of all its members, and works to address the underlying social, economic, and environmental factors that are responsible in contribute to poor health outcomes. This includes addressing issues like poverty, inequality, discrimination and environmental degradation, which can have a significant impact on the health of its individuals and communities. Overall, a healthy society is one that prioritizes health and well-being as a fundamental aspect of a sustainable good life, and works to create the conditions necessary for all individuals and communities to thrive. The present volume ‘Healthy Society: Perspectives on Impacts of COVID, Healthy Ageing & Health Equity’, is an outcome of an International Webinar “Social Determinants of Health towards Health Equity; with Special reference of Elderly People in Mountain Regions” held during November 29- 30, 2021, sponsored by Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR),Ministry of Education, Government of India, New Delhi and organized by HIM-SHRI Foundation & Uttarakhand Open University, Haldwani, Nainital, Uttarakhand, India. The Editors are very thankful to Professor (Dr.) Sanghmitra S. Acharya, Chair, Centre for Community Health & Social Medicine, School of Social Sciences, Jawahar Lal Nehru University, New Delhi for writing the forward for the book.