In our society, good health is often seen as a blessing. But good health should be something that all of us can aspire to. In this respect, the role of the public health professionals, working tirelessly every day to bring basic health practices to the millions world over, is unquestionably an important one. However, as important as it is, the role also comes with its own unique challenges.
Public health issues are no longer restricted to the local or even the national. They are now global in scope, and carry dimensions of political, environmental, and societal factors. Health issues have proliferated and now require immediate addressal from public health experts.
The Ever-Changing Policies:
The public health landscape is constantly changing. New diseases are emerging on the horizon, old diseases are becoming resistant to treatments, and policies that were once guarantees for our protection are falling short. To address these unique challenges present in front of us, we need a strong understanding of the field of public health.
What Is Public Health?
Public health is the field that focuses on preventing disease, promoting good health, and prolonging life expectancy through an organized effort and informed choices taken collectively by societies, organizations, communities, and individuals. It encompasses everything from environmental protection to food safety, to even sex education.
Students interested in public health might study environmental science, epidemiology, sociology, biostatistics, and health policy. If you are someone looking for the right major to study so that you could have a career that can impact public health, then an online MPH program can be the right choice for you.
Challenges Faced in the Public Health Domain:
Public health domain is constantly evolving and changing. New challenges arise all the time, and it can be frustrating to try and keep up with all of them.
Here are just a few of the many challenges public health professionals face.
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Addressing Infectious Diseases:
Infectious diseases are one of the biggest threats to public health. These diseases cause severe illness or even death, and they’re notoriously hard to eradicate. Contact with an infected persons or surfaces can expose you to a variety of infections.
There are several ways to address infectious diseases. Prevention is critical, and education is essential in this regard. It’s also necessary to have a robust healthcare infrastructure in place to provide patients with the treatment they need. Vaccination programs are another critical tool for preventing and controlling infectious diseases.
Addressing Chronic Diseases:
Chronic disease cases have risen in the United States and throughout the world in the past few decades. They’re responsible for millions of deaths each year, and they cost billions of dollars in medical expenses.
Chronic diseases can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Lifestyle choices
- Genetics
- Environmental exposures
We can promote healthy lifestyles, invest in research to find new treatments and cures, and provide access to quality healthcare for everyone, to address the epidemic of chronic diseases.
Addressing Mental Health Issues:
Awareness and treatment of mental health issues can significantly contribute to our overall health and happiness. It has an influence on how we think, feel, and act. Mental health challenges can affect anyone, regardless of their age, race, or income level.
Mental health problems are also becoming quite common the world over. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), one in every five adults experiences a mental illness at some point in the year.
HIV/AIDS:
It is a severe public health issue that still persists to this day, affecting people, communities, and even societies as a whole. More than 36 million have died from HIV/AIDS since it was first discovered in 1981, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In the United States, there are approximately 40,000 new infections each year. African Americans account for 12% of the population but 44% of new HIV infections.
Other Factors that Need Attention
There are numerous other factors that also require our attention when it comes to improving public health. For example, access to quality healthcare is a critical issue. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 100 million people worldwide lack access to essential health services.
In addition, many environmental hazards can impact our health. Toxic chemicals in our water and air can cause serious illnesses, and climate change is already causing increased asthma, heatstroke, and other conditions.
Increasing the Public Health Workforce:
One way to address public health challenges is by increasing the number of public health officials. These can include doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals specifically trained in providing public health care.
CDC has several programs that helps train the next generation of public health workers. They also provide funding to state and local health departments to help them address deficiencies in public health providers.
International Cooperation:
Public health challenges don’t just affect one country. They can have a global impact. That’s why different countries need to work together to address these challenges. The World Health Organization (WHO) is the leading organization that coordinates international cooperation in public health.
The WHO has some programs that can help countries address public health challenges on a global scale. For example, the WHO’s Pulse Polio program helps countries eradicate polio.
Research and Development:
Public health challenges can also be addressed through research and development (R&D). R&D is the process of discovering new knowledge or products.
Many organizations conduct public health R&D. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the largest organization that leads public health R&D projects in the United States.
Funding:
Another way to address public health challenges is through funding. There are several ways to fund public health initiatives.
One way is through donations from individuals, organizations, or governments. Another way is through taxes. Governments often use taxes to fund public health programs. For example, the United States government supports the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through taxpayers’ money.
Another way to fund public health initiatives is through provision of grants. Grants are funds given to organizations or individuals for a specific project. Organizations and individuals can apply for grants from several different sources, such as the government or private companies.
Ensuring Impact of Public Health Policies
So, what can we, as individuals, do to witness the most positive outcomes for our public health? We must advocate and campaign for policies that will increase healthcare access. As greater investments into R&D can help identify the possible solutions to the existing challenges, and even anticipate the ones brewing under the surface, we might do well by listening to the experts and heeding their advice.