PUBLIC HEALTH

PUBLIC HEALTH

Public health is the “science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting physical and mental health and well-being.”  This definition was given by Winslow in the year 1920.

---Winslow  

 

Public health efforts enhance the capacity of community and society to maintain and improve personal health. Public health is defined as the science of protecting the safety and improving the health of communities through education, policy making and research for disease and injury prevention.

The definition of public health is different for every person. Public health is defined as the science of protecting the safety and improving the health of communities through education, policy making and research for disease and injury prevention.
The definition of public health is different for every person.

Public health involves the application of many different disciplines:

·         Biology

·         Anthropology

·         Public policy

·         Mathematics

·         Engineering

·         Education

·         Psychology

·         Computer science

·         Sociology

·         Medicine

·         Business

·         and others

 

 

WHAT DO PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS DO?

As a public health professional, you will be trained to perform one or more of these ten essential services:

·         Monitor the health status of a community to identify potential problems

·         Diagnose and investigate health problems and hazards in the community

·         Inform, educate, and empower people about health issues, particularly the under served and those at risk

·         Mobilize community partnerships to identify and solve health problems

·         Develop policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts

·         Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety

·         Link people to needed personal health services and ensure the provision of health care when otherwise unavailable

·         Ensure a competent public health and personal health care workforce

·         Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and population-based health services

·         Research new insights and innovative solutions to health problems

 

 Public Health Professionals focus on preventing disease and injury by promoting healthy lifestyles. They implement educational programs, develop policies, administer services, conduct research, and regulate health systems to achieve these goals.