Public health systems vary in different parts of the world, depending upon the prevalent health problems. In the developing world, where sanitation problems and limited medical resources persist, infectious diseases are the most significant threat to public health. Public health officials devote resources to establish sanitation systems and immunization programs to curb the spread of infectious diseases, and provide routine medical care to rural and isolated populations. In industrialized nations, sanitary food and water supplies and excellent medical resources have reduced rates of infectious disease. Instead, accidents and diseases such as lung cancer, heart attacks, and strokes are among the leading causes of death. In these areas, public health goals include education programs to teach people how to prevent accidents and lessen their risk for disease, and the maintenance of the excellent disease prevention systems already established.
Public health workers may engage in activities outside the scope of ordinary medical practice. These include inspecting and licensing restaurants; conducting rodent and insect control programs; and checking the safety of housing, water, and food supplies. In assuring overall community health, public health officials also act as advocates for laws and regulations—such as drug licensing or product labeling requirements. Some public health officials are epidemiologists, who use sophisticated computer and mathematical models to track the incidence of communicable diseases and to identify new diseases and health trends. Others conduct state-of-the-art medical research to find new prevention and treatment methods.
Most people think of public health workers as physicians and nurses, but a wide variety of other professionals work in public health, including veterinarians, sanitary engineers, microbiologists, laboratory technicians, statisticians, economists, administrators, attorneys, industrial safety and hygiene specialists, psychologists, sociologists, and educators.
Public health workers may engage in activities outside the scope of ordinary medical practice. These include inspecting and licensing restaurants; conducting rodent and insect control programs; and checking the safety of housing, water, and food supplies. In assuring overall community health, public health officials also act as advocates for laws and regulations—such as drug licensing or product labeling requirements. Some public health officials are epidemiologists, who use sophisticated computer and mathematical models to track the incidence of communicable diseases and to identify new diseases and health trends. Others conduct state-of-the-art medical research to find new prevention and treatment methods.
Most people think of public health workers as physicians and nurses, but a wide variety of other professionals work in public health, including veterinarians, sanitary engineers, microbiologists, laboratory technicians, statisticians, economists, administrators, attorneys, industrial safety and hygiene specialists, psychologists, sociologists, and educators.
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