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7. CONCLUSION
This report has given a flavour of a Scotland which is working hard to change its image to one of positive health and wellbeing - a Scotland in which clear leadership is being given by the Executive and its partners, but in which the people of Scotland are also increasingly recognising their role in making healthier choices which change their lives for the better. We want to be the best small country in the world, with improved health for all and reduced health inequalities, greater confidence and optimism for our future. That requires concerted and joined up action by government and its partners to support the people of Scotland in making healthier choices.
In Improving Health in Scotland: The Challenge28 we asked:
'Where do we want to get to?
We want to move towards a position where everyone in Scotland enjoys the very best of health, on a par with the best in Europe. Our aim is to accelerate the rate of change therefore, more rapidly achieving health improvement. Increasing life expectancy and healthy life expectancy, because the quality of life in terms of freedom from debilitating ill health, can be as important as the duration of life.'
And it is worth restating our vision for the future:
'The Vision for Scotland in 2020:
A thriving Scotland with appropriate working, housing and living conditions, less smoking, healthier eating, more activity in daily life and less binge drinking, producing an improvement in quality of peoples' lives, enhanced wellbeing and increased life expectancy for all men and women, fewer early deaths from heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
Individuals and organisations taking more individual and corporate responsibility, with more people living their lives in good health both physically and mentally.
All Scotland's children have a positive expectation of appropriate housing, education, community and family life with the aim of maturing into positive, confident and productive citizenship.'
This remains our clear aspiration for the people of Scotland - and one which the whole of government and its partners are working hard to achieve, and in which everyone in Scotland can play an active and positive role.
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