[Role of district and local self-government in disability prevention]

Prevention of common chronic diseases in the development of temporary and/or permanent working disability is not only a significant public health problem but also a serious economic and social issue. The epidemic of traffic-related injuries, work-related injuries and, unfortunately, injuries sustained during sports and recreational activities is pretty disturbing. Article 69 of the Croatian Constitution states that all residents of Croatia have a right to healthy life. The State provides special care for disabled persons and promotes their inclusion into the society (Article 57), and each Croatian citizen is entitled to health care and protection (Article 58). In addition to the issue of disabled workers in the Zagreb area, there is an ever-growing problem of disabled veterans and persons with congenital physical and/or psychological disorders. Article 2, item 2 of the Health Care Act states that "citizens should participate in all health prevention activities introduced at their place of residence and work for the purpose of improvement and protection of their health as well as prevention of diseases". Item 5 relates to the treatment and rehabilitation of diseased, physically and mentally handicapped and injured persons, and item 6 quotes measures of special health surveillance in the victims of war and in the population over 60 years of age. Primary prevention measures are as follows: (1) Identification, recording, follow-up, analysis, reporting and assessment of health needs and functional abilities of the elderly. (2) Prophylactic individual counseling of healthy and ill health care users, (3) Stimulation of self-responsibility for own health. (4) Coordination of services engaged in health protection of the elderly and continuous education of workers and volunteers engaged in health protection. (5) Social, psychological and even legal counseling of health care users and their family members. (6) Identification of environmental conditions in which elderly persons live (ergonomics of their environment) in order to estimate the needs for home treatment, care, rehabilitation and physical and spiritual recreation. The author discusses the need for closer cooperation between gerontology centers and non-government professional organizations, voluntary associations of citizens and corporations for the purpose of promoting common interests (ecological, economic, humanitarian, cultural, sports, health, scientific, informative and other). In addition to positive laws of the Republic of Croatia, the Act on Legal Position of Religious Communities allows comprehensive charitable activities. Accordingly, sports and recreation must be incorporated into projects of collaboration aimed at prevention and/or solution of health issues of disabled persons. Past experience and the possibility of joining European and international processes of integration are also discussed.