Public Health is the science and art of preventing disease and promoting good health within groups of people, from small communities to entire countries.
Why it’s Important:
- Prevents epidemics and the spread of disease
- Protects against environmental hazards
- Prevents injuries
- Promotes and encourages healthy behaviors
- Responds to disasters and assists communities in recovery
- Assures the quality and accessibility of health services
Ten Essential Public Health Services:
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Monitor health status to identify community health problems
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Diagnose and investigate health problems and health hazards in the community
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Inform, educate, and empower people about health issues
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Mobilize community partnerships to identify and solve health problems
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Develop policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts
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Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety
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Link people with needed personal health services and assure the provision of health care when otherwise unavailable
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Assure a competent public health and personal health care work force
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Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and population-based health services
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Research for new insights and innovative solutions to health problems
Examples of Public Health in Policy and Practice:
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Vaccination programs
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Safety standards and practices to protect worker health and safety
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Ensuring access to clean water and air
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Educational campaigns to promote healthy behaviors
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Measuring the effects of air, soil, and water quality on deployed Soldiers
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Nutrition programs
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Ensuring the quality and safety of food sources and food preparation
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Noise control
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Solid and hazardous waste management
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Radiation protection
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Disease and injury surveillance
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Response to outbreaks of disease
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Evaluation of effectiveness of public health interventions
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Development of evidence-based programs to reduce injuries
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Identification of risk factors for suicide and other behavioral health outcomes