Why public health.
Why public health?
Public health is essential work and more people are joining the community each day. Want to know why this field is so unique? Let’s see what the American Public Heath Association has to say…
Public Health
What is public health?
Public health promotes and protects the health of all people and their communities. This science-based, evidence-backed field strives to give everyone a safe place to live, learn, work and play.
Why is public health important?
Public health improves our quality of life, helps children thrive, reduces human suffering and saves money. Every day, the public health field is working – often behind the scenes – to prevent hazards and keep people healthy.
FOR EXAMPLE
Public health is responsible for:
- Tracking disease outbreaks and vaccinating communities to avoid the spread of disease.
- Setting safety standards to protect workers.
- Developing school nutrition programs to ensure kids have access to healthy food.
- Advocating for laws to keep people safe, including smoke-free indoor air and seatbelts.
- Working to prevent gun violence.
- Addressing the impact of climate change on our health.
- Declaring racism as a public health crisis.
Who are public health professionals?
Restaurant inspectors
Community health workers
Nutritionists
Social workers
Public health physicians and nurses
Policymakers
First responders
Health educators
Scientists and researchers
Community planners
Epidemiologists
Occupational health and safety professionals
Sanitarians
Biostatisticians
What’s the difference between health care and public health?
The health care industry treats people who are sick, while public health aims to prevent people from getting sick or injured in the first place.
Public health also focuses on entire populations, while health care focuses on individual patients.