WHAT IS PUBLIC HEALTH

PUBLIC HEALTH

• Not a single product or service provided by one type of health professional in one place.
• Not a single specialty but trans-disciplinary.
• A web of relationships among many different people and organizations about wide variety of topics –
a dynamic system about wide variety of topics.
• Public health is about each of us taking responsibility for advancing the health of the population.

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PUBLIC HEALTH

• “The science and art of preventing disease,

prolonging life, and promoting health through
organized efforts and informed choices of
society, organizations, public and private
communities and individuals.

- CEA Winslow

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What is public-health (CDC, 2017)

• Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of families and
communities through promotion of healthy lifestyles, research for disease and
injury prevention and detection and control of infectious diseases.

• Overall, public health is concerned with protecting the health of entire populations.
These populations can be as small as a local neighbourhood, or as big as an
entire country or region of the world.

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What is public-health (WHO)

• Public health refers to all organized measures to prevent diseases promote health
and prolong life among population as a whole
• Its activities focus on the entire population not individuals.
• It focuses on the entire system not only part of it for instance not only on the
eradication of a certain diseases.

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Three core functions of public health

ASSESSMENT Systematically collect, analyze data

and make information available

Promote use of scientific knowledge

POLICY
base in policy and making decisions
DEVELOPMENT

Ensure the provision of services to

ASSURANCE those in need.
The 10 essential public HEALTH SERVICES

1. Monitor the health status of the community.

2. Investigate and diagnose health problems and hazards.
3. Inform and educate people regarding health issues.
4. Mobilize partnerships to solve community problems.
5. Support policies and plans to achieve health goals.
6. Enforce laws and regulations to protect health and safety.
7. Link people to needed personal health services.
8. Ensure a skilled, competent public health workforce.
9. Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility and quality of health services
10. Research and apply innovative solutions.

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Some knowledge tracks of public health

• Biostatistics
• Environmental health
• Epidemiology
• Health Promotion
• Occupational Health
• Community Health
• Nutrition
• Social and Behavioral Sciences
• HIV/AIDS
• Disease Control
• Health Systems and Management

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STAKEHOLDER ROLES IN PUBLIC HEALTH

GOVERNMENT Education and health in all policies

AGENCIES

EMPLOYERS & Wellness initiatives and benefit, healthy

BUSINESS workplace and communities

ACADEMIA Education, training and research

Vehicle for public discourse, health

MEDIA education, health communication