The Federal Centre for Health Education
As part of the official health system in Germany the Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) has been pursuing the goal of preventing health risks and encouraging health-promoting lifestyles since its establishment in 1967.
The principal elements of BZgA’s work are currently as follows:
1) Contribution to the development and implementation of national action plans and programmes
for preventing infections and associated diseases, particularly HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections,
for drug and addiction prevention (focusing on tobacco and alcohol prevention),
for promoting child and youth health (healthy development; nutrition, exercise, mental health).
2) Performing statutory tasks
sexuality education and family planning (basis: Pregnancy and Family Assistance Act),
education on the subject of organ and tissue donation (basis: Section 2, Transplantation Act),
education regarding blood and plasma donation (basis: Section 3 Para. 4, Transfusion Act).
3) Performing national joint tasks with a population-wide impact that are necessary for implementing the key fields of education
evaluation and quality assurance,
coordination and cooperation.
The importance of international collaboration
One of the key tasks of the BZgA is the international exchange of experience for the purpose of constantly improving and advancing prevention and health promotion. The development of international standards in health-related education and the exchange of concepts and strategies with competent partners outside Germany are fundamental concerns of the BZgA.
The BZgA pursues i.a. the following goals in this context:
- Active participation in the development of international standards for theory and practice in health promotion and prevention through networking national and international strategies
- Strengthening of collaboration with the EU and the WHO through participation in events, committees and joint projects
- Networking with partner institutions in other countries through active involvement in international bodies and networks, and in bilateral exchanges with experts
The main focus is on supporting work in the priority fields of action of the BZgA, e.g. through the provision of international health promotion concepts and strategies, and the contribution of expertise from BZgA concepts and experience to the international debate. The BZgA therefore works in various EU-funded projects and networks, as well as collaborating with the WHO and other international organisations and partner institutions.