Public Health is the science and art of preventing disease, promoting health, prolonging life and efficiency through an organized effort of society. It primarily emphasizes on preventing diseases and improving the health of people and their communities. The core motive of is “Prevention is better than cure”. So, for sure each and every sort of activities conducted are so far related with preventive and promotional aspects of diseases, health and life. Holistically, it is concerned with protecting the health of entire population. Here, wide variety of interventional programs are conducted by public health professionals at every nook and corner of the country. The main motive is to prevent problems from happening or recurring. The intervention activities can be educational programs, recommending policies, administering services and conducting research.
Iceberg Concept
Public Health and its role in society, country and world at large can be best understood from Iceberg concept of disease occurrence. Here, in the image the tip of the ice above the sea clearly symbolizes diagnosed diseases, patients and physicians treating their patients. However, the major portion of ice submerged underneath the sea symbolizes the undiagnosed and hidden health issues, diseases, illnesses and patients. The major portion is not seen by physician. So, considering the fact, the Public Health works in the submerged portion of iceberg. Public Health Professionals work in the submerged portion of iceberg to prevent disease, promote health and prolong life. Public Health Professionals work to prevent the happening of all sort of health issues and diseases throughout the world.
The submerged portion of iceberg consists of almost all sort of health issues, undiagnosed and unscreened diseases and silent killer chronic diseases which will come into seen phase in our old age life or only after they have reached at the most crucial and life threatening phase. So, Public Health put its effort in preventing their occurrence, screening such diseases at initial phases and ultimately promoting the life of entire population.
Domains of Public Health
- Thematic Domain
- Nutrition—food fortification, food quality
- Environmental health—environmental sanitation
- Life-style—healthy behavior, involvement in physical activities
- Reproductive health—family planning, adolescent health, safe sexual behavior
- MCH—safe motherhood, family planning, child nutrition, ANC/PNC
- Communicable and non-communicable diseases—malaria, ARI, measles, diabetes, cancer, HIV/AIDS
- Core action domain
- Health promoting action—lifestyle change, behavior modification
- Health risk factors—smoking, drinking alcohol, harsh driving, sugary and fatty diet
- Injuries and disease prevention actions—Road traffic accidents, falls,
- Health protecting actions—prevention and prophylaxis against diseases, use of condoms, personal protective equipment
- Epidemic control actions—outbreak investigation, surveillance
- Actions leading to early detection, treatment and compliance to treatment resume
- Intervention domain
- Health education—awareness, nutrition education, counselling, media campaigns
- Health promotion strategies—nutrition modification and lifestyle change
- Policy and legal intervention—formulation of suitable laws and acts, effective implementation of the plans and policies, environment and occupational health laws
- Community organization and participation—involvement of local people, community based organizations and NGOs, formation of child and woman clubs
Core Functions of Public Health
- Assessment
- Monitor health
- Diagnose and investigate
- Policy Development
- Inform, Educate, Empower
- Mobilize community partnership
- Develop policies
- Assurance
- Enforce laws
- Link to/Provide care
- Assure component workforce
- Evaluate
Conclusion:
In a nutshell, Public Health plays a vital role in the health sector particularly in the preventive and promotional aspects of health. There are commendable contributions of public health in health sector such as vaccination, safer workplaces, healthier mothers and babies, family planning, safer and healthier foods, fluoridation of drinking water, etc. Factually, the contributions of Public Health is just beyond explanation.
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