Country Profile

Tunisia

Health Promotion in Tunisia

by Lassoued Belhassen

 

I would like to give you some indications about Tunisia which is an arab, an african and a mediterranean country and an idea of its efforts to promote health citizens for a better quality of life.
 
I. Over recent decades Tunisia, just as other developing countries has
witnessed a demographic transition, passing through the following stages:
1- High mortality and fertility.
2- Initial decline of mortality and fertility.
3- A rapid decline of mortality and fertility.
 
 
II. Actually: (Demographic and health statistics indications)
  • Our Population is about 9 Millions hts.
  • 63% under 30 years old.
  • 54% under 20 years old.
  • Urban Population: 60%
  • Rural Population: 39%
  • The birth rate: 23% (30%: 1987)
  • The mortality rate: 5% (15%: 1966)
  • Infant mortality rate: 32/1000 (52/1000: 1968)
  • Life expectancy: 71 years (66: 1968)
  • About annual per capita expenditures on health we can say that tunisia is the only african country besides Mauritius which has already achieved the goals of WHO "Health for all by the year 2000".
 
 
III. About the promotion of health we consider:
 
1/ First: actions to promote health of the country citizens are not limited to
combating disease.
2/ All the departments, ministries and associations have to join their efforts
to promote health and quality of life.
3/ So each department and association has its special programs, for example:
 
 
A/ The Ministry of social affairs is working about:
 
  • The national Program to assist needy families in all sectors.
  • Creating sources of income for needy families.
  • Promotion of the handicapped.
  • Protection of the Elderly.
  • Protection of children: A code to protect the right of the child has been adopted making Tunisia the country in the world to adopt a legislative tool of this sort following Sweden, Norway, Canada and Switzerland.
  • Social defense and integration.
  • Social actions in schools.
 
B/ Since 1964 the Ministry of Women's and family affairs and the women's
organizations and associations have adopted an ambition family planning
program - a special program of health and family education exist also all
over the country.
 
 
IV Contribution of Sport for All to promote health
 
1- The Tunisian legislation invites the state to facilitate the practice of
physical activities and sport for everybody and more particularly for
elderly for its individual benefits (on physiological, psychological and
social level) and its benefits for society (reduced health and social care
costs).
 
2- The body in charge of health promotion these activities under the
supervision of the ministry of youth, childhood and sport is the Tunisian
Federation of Sport For All.
 
Its principal objectives are:
  • To help citizens of all ages and particularly the old improve their fitness.
  • To set up a health circuit (course) accessible for all in each region of the country.
  • To organize sporting days "open doors" for families, children, students, handicapped.
  • To organize events about "sport and environment".
  • To support and put a nero life into the traditional and popular physical and sport activities.
 
 
3- Examples
  • Fitness day
- Pass-sport of Fitness
- Certificate
  • Health circuit
 
Sport for All in Africa and the Arab countries
  • Tunisia has been at the origin of the creation of the African Union of Sport for All (1985 in Tunis) and the Arab Union of Sport for All (1993 in le Caire).

  • These structures are still at beginning and has organized some seminars and training courses in tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, Koweit and Marocco.

 

Mr. Lassoued Belhassen is president of the Sport for All-Tunisian Federation. He may be reached at: Avenue Mohamed Ali Akid, Cite Nationale sportive El Menzah, 1004 Tunis, Tel: (216)-1-841433, Fax: (216)-1-350382.
 
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