Best Practice in Health Education in Museums

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OCM Datasheet

Intended Audience

Museum workers

Charlotte Coates, Museums Next

2019

“Educating the population about health issues is an important part of keeping people healthy and well. Health education encompasses physical, mental, social and emotional health. When people have key information available to them, they are able to make informed decisions. A healthy and happy population has a whole host of socio-economic benefits. Museums provide trusted information to the public. There is a lot of scope for museums to contribute to public health education. For example, they can hold exhibitions on physical health and look in depth at the human body. They can also help people to understand more about mental health. This can include a variety of formats including displays, workshops and group projects.”

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The focus of the resource is 4.7 (Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship), notably in relation to health topics. These can contribute to a number of SDG targets in SDG 3 (Good health and well-being) including SDGs 3.3 (Fight communicable diseases), 3.4 (Reduce mortality from non-communicable diseases and promote mental health), 3.5 (Prevent and treat substance abuse), 3.7 (Universal access to sexual and reproductive care, family planning and education), 3.A (Implement the WHO Framework Convention on tobacco control), and 3.D (Improve early warning systems for global health risks), and also in SDG 2, including SDGs 2.1 and 2.2 (relating to food and nutrition). Addressing the stigma associated with mental health, drug use and other issues helps contribute to SDG 10.2 (Promote universal social, economic and political inclusion).

Click on the SDG Target to discover Our Collections Matter indicators

SDG 2.1: Universal Access to Safe and Nutritious Food
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Number of educational programmes incorporating food security, nutrition and seasonal diet perspectives.
Collections development related to food security, nutrition and seasonal diets, as appropriate.
Number of targeted educational, awareness-raising and partnership programmes relating to food and nutrition, drawing on collections, aimed at vulnerable and marginalized groups.
Number of research activities drawing on collections that relate to resilient agricultural practices, helping mitigate and adapt to climate change, flooding and other disasters.
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SDG 2.2: End All Forms of Malnutrition
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Number of educational programmes incorporating health and food perspectives.
Collections development related to malnutrition and nutrition, where appropriate.
Number of targeted educational, awareness-raising and partnership programmes relating to food and nutrition, drawing on collections, aimed at vulnerable and marginalized groups.
Number of research activities drawing on collections that relate to nutrition and addressing malnutrition.
Number of partnership programmes that directly support ending of malnutrition through provisioning of food and other dietary needs.
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SDG 3.3: Fight Communicable Diseases
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Collection development that can contribute to programmes addressing AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and/or neglected tropical diseases, combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.
Number of educational programmes addressing these subjects.
Number of targeted educational and participatory programmes for marginalized and at-risk groups relating to communicable diseases.
Number of research activities that help understand the causes and manage impacts of tuberculosis, malaria and other communicable diseases.
Partnerships in place to help ensure effective governance of communicable diseases, public health information and education relating to communicable diseases.
Steady flow of reliable information relating to communicable diseases.
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SDG 3.4: Reduce Mortality from Non-Communicable Diseases and Promote Mental Health
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Plans, policies and procedures in place for the safe use of collections, notably in relation to chemical, physical, biological and other forms of hazard.
Proportion of users of collections facilities reporting positive well-being during and as a result of activities relating to collections.
Number and proportion of programmes relating to collections that incorporate wellbeing considerations and perspectives.
Number of targeted programmes drawing on collections that address issues relating to non-communicable diseases, supporting prevention and treatment.
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SDG 3.5: Prevent and Treat Substance Abuse
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Number and proportion of educational programmes relating to collections that address narcotic drug use and harmful alcohol use.
Number of targeted programmes drawing on collections that address issues relating to narcotic drug use and harmful alcohol use, supporting prevention and treatment.
Effective relationships and partnerships in place with agencies involved in supporting prevention and treatment of substance abuse.
Steady flow of reliable information relating to prevention and treatment of substance abuse.
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SDG 3.7: Universal Access to Sexual and Reproductive Care, Family Planning and Education
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Number and proportion of educational programmes relating to collections that address sexual and reproductive health, and family planning.
Number of targeted programmes drawing on collections that address issues relating to sexual and reproductive health, and family planning.
Effective relationships and partnerships in place with related agencies to ensure steady flow of information on relevant strategies and programmes.
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SDG 3.A: Implement the WHO Framework convention on Tobacco Control
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Collections development related to tobacco use and its harmful impacts on the body, as appropriate.
Number of educational and awareness programmes relating to the health impacts of tobacco and smoking, drawing on collections.
Number of educational and awareness programmes relating to the health impacts of tobacco and smoking, that target marginalized and vulnerable groups most exposed to health risks.
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SDG 3.D: Improve Early Warning Systems for Global Health Risks
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Number of collecting initiatives that aim to build capacity for risk reduction to national and global health risks, for example by storing and preserving collections that may be of use in post-disaster scenarios, or that can be used in early warning and risk communication activities.
Number of educational programmes incorporating perspectives on early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.
Number of awareness raising programmes that target marginalized and vulnerable groups most exposed to health risks.
Plans in place for early warning, risk reduction and management to national and global health risks.
Relationships and partnerships in place for risk reduction and management in light of national and global health risks.
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SDG 4.7: Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Numbers of people in each type of programme drawing on collections from different demographic groups.
Increases in numbers of people in each type of programme from different demographic groups.
Proportion of people involved in such programmes in relation to overall audience size.
Evidence that learners have acquired knowledge and skills to promote sustainable development.
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SDG 10.2: Promote Universal Social Economic and Political Inclusion
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Collections development to ensure that collections effectively meet the needs of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
Number and proportion of educational and participatory programmes that promote participation irrespective of social or other status.
Numbers and proportions of people making use of collections in relation to the demographic of the local population.
Numbers and proportions of people involved in focused programmes aimed at promoting social, economic and political inclusion.
Numbers and proportions of people from different demographic groups involved in decision-making processes relating to collections and collections-based institutions.
Number and types of partnerships that build relationships with marginalized groups, individuals and communities.
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