Public Health Public health is a science-based approach to protecting and improving the health of populations as a whole. For example, public health is concerned with the population of a city, state, or country and groups such as teens, children, older adults, pregnant people, and people who are homeless. Public Health Goals The US government provides leadership and develops goals for the country’s public health. National public health plans include goals for physical, mental, and social health. Doctors, experts in public health, and leaders of public health organizations help develop these goals. National public health goals have several broad objectives, called overarching goals, that promote individual, family, and community health and help prevent disease (Figure 2.20). Health Organizations Government regulations and organizations also help promote health and prevent disease. Many health organizations employ scientists, doctors, nurses, counselors, medical technicians, and experts in public health. These organizations offer valuable resources for researching, preventing, diagnosing, and treating physical and mental health conditions. Cities, counties, and states have a department of health. Departments of health gather information about health and disease in the community so healthcare professionals can plan public health programs and goals. For example, if a county records increasing cases of a rare disease such as measles, county officials can help local doctors, nurses, and clinics improve vaccination programs. Other local health organizations can also support these efforts. Large, federal health organizations are responsible for many aspects of US public health. You can consult these organizations’ websites for credible, useful information about health (Figure 2.21). The World Community Your community is part of the larger world community. Advocating for world health is another way to promote your community’s health. You can do some good for others and learn about the world’s diverse people and cultures. World health is concerned with the health of human populations around the world. World health considers factors such as relations between countries, global climate, war, trade practices, national economies, poverty, and cultural practices. The chief international health organizations are the World Health Organization (WHO), which promotes health in regions throughout the world, and the World Bank, which provides economic support for low-income regions to promote health and safety. Nearly 200 countries are members of each organization. Together, they monitor ongoing health conditions, address health emergencies, and help countries solve underlying factors that lead to health conditions. public health science-based approach to protecting and improving the health of populations as a whole world health health of human populations around the world Figure 2.20 These are some examples of national public health goals. These goals influence the work of government health organizations and give guidance to health education programs in schools. National Public Health Goals ● ● Attain high-quality, longer lives free of preventable disease, disability, injury, and premature death: This is the chief goal for public and personal health. The other goals make it possible to achieve this goal. ● ● Achieve health equity, eliminate disparities, and improve the health of all groups: Health equity is access to healthcare for all people, regardless of gender, sex, age, race or ethnicity, income, disability, and disease. Health disparities are significant differences in the occurrence of disease among groups of people (for example, people who have more or less education). Disparities result from differences in treatment, prevention, and access to healthcare. ● ● Create social and physical environments that promote positive health for all: This goal aims to reduce or eliminate factors that harm community and public health. ● ● Promote quality of life, healthy development, and healthy behaviors across all life stages: This goal aims to improve health at all stages from infancy through older adulthood. Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 62 Unit 1 Promoting a Lifetime of Health and Wellness