The term 'Health Monitor' combines two terms: Health and Monitor.
Health was defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1948 after the shock of the Second World War as
"... a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity. The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition."
This exacting requirement describes an ideal situation since each individual is constantly exposed to exogenic (external) or endogenic (internal) influences that disturb the homeostasis. However, it also refers to the political and social responsibility to achieve this ideal.
A thought and discussion process developed on the basis of these requirements imposed by the WHO, which reached its preliminary climax in 1978 with the declaration of Alma Ata [WHO 1978b]:
"Health, a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease, is a fundamental human right.
The attainment of the highest possible level of health is one of the most important worldwide social goals whose realisation requires the action of many other social and economic sectors in addition to the health sector."
The term 'health' is now based on the concept of 'Primary Health Care'(PHC), which incorporates the following principles [WHO 1978a]:
These principles have subsequently been positioned beneath international and national level and tailored to the respective local conditions.
The term 'Monitor' is derived from the Latin (<Latin> 'monito' – 'reminder') and can also mean 'supervisor', 'giver of a warning or alert'. The word is commonly used today as a synonym for 'screen' in the sense of 'supervising' and 'observing' (<English> monitor – 'listening into', 'overseeing').
And it is precisely this combination of 'health' and 'monitor' that is meant by GMON: To raise awareness of health risks in good time and provide a reminder of the need to take action that promotes health by monitoring relevant information on a regular basis.