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.
