Circle of Health, created 20 years ago on P.E.I., now used worldwide

A tool for health promotion created on P.E.I.20 years ago has been so successfulit's beingused today in countries as far flung as Brazil andSerbia.

It's possible for a little island like ours to generate the kind of energy that might have world impact.- PatsyBeattie-Huggan, The Quaich

The Circle of Health isa visual depictionof everything that is required to create health in communities, families and individuals.

The colourful concentric circlesdrawinspiration froma compass rose,an Aboriginal medicinewheel, the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion and the determinants of health.

It is used in at least 20 countries.

"I thought when we produced it, it was for local needs on P.E.I. [and it would]probably have a five-year shelf life," said Patsy Beattie-Huggan, founder ofhealth promotion consulting company The Quaich.

Translations into Serbian, Portuguese

To celebrate the anniversary, The Quaich ishosting a workshop on the Circle of Health Saturday in advance of the 6th Global Forum on Health Promotion, an international event coming to Charlottetown on Sunday and Monday.

Local, national and international health practitioners, researchers and educators will be arriving for the forum, and many of themuse the circlein their work.

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Beattie-Huggansaid Brazil is looking at "how the Circle of Health could actually be adopted as a framework for rolling out their national health promotion strategy."

"It's been translated into Portuguese. It's also translated into Serbian and been used there to develop a textbook and learning materials for public health and medical schools in Serbia and neighbouring countries."

Beattie-Huggan said the Circle of Health works because it's tangible.

Used throughout Canada

"Most frameworks live in books and textbooks. The Ottawa charter's no exception," she said.

"It's a lovely document, but you can't pick it up in your hand. And we wanted a tool that people could actually take away, hold in their hands and use in the field."

The circle is also being used throughout Canada, including at Acadia University in Wolfville, N.S., and in Prince Edward County, Ont.

"It's a little bit surreal sometimes," Beattie-Huggan said of the circle's success. "You don't know where it's going to go."

Charlottetown Call forAction?

Beattie-Huggan said she's even more excited about the global forum itself,the first to be held outside Europe. People from South Africa, Russia and Kenya will be in Charlottetown for the summit.

She said decisions made at the forum could affect health promotion for 30 years.

"It may even be called the Charlottetown Call for Action," she said.

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Beattie-Huggan said there's a misconception that health is always about hospitals and doctors.

"Health promotion is about creating conditions where people can make healthy choices," she said.

"It's not just saying to people 'eat more carrots' or 'run harder.' For some people that's not possible. They might have problems with food insecurity or they may not have the income to go out and join a fitness club.

"So what we're really looking at is some bigger social changes that will enable people to make choices that are healthier."

World impact for 'little island'

She believes the forum will spark change and re-energize people involved in health promotion.

"Hopefully those people who are listening will be inspired as well to think that it's possible for a little island like ours to generate the kind of energy that might have world impact."

The Circle of Health workshop is Saturday from1 p.m. to4 p.m. at the Rodd Charlottetown and costs $50.

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