Public health

1. Publichealth

2. Public Health Objectives Students will be able to: • Debate current public health concerns • Recognize the role of local, state, national, international and independent public health organizations

3. What is public health? • Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of communities through education, promotion of healthy lifestyles, and research for disease and injury prevention. • Overall public health is concerned with protecting the health of entire populations . These populations can be as small as a local neighborhood, or as big as an entire country. whatispublichealth.org

4. Local public health departments • Local Health Departments- provides counseling and therapy for: families, drug and alcohol abuse. Testing and treatment for STD’s. health education, prenatal care, immunization, home health care for people who are confined to the house, screenings for TB, high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes. • http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/lhd/peninsula/

5. State Public health • State Health Departments- are responsible for services need to maintain public health within the state; inspecting food handling, testing water, testing food, testing medical samples, compile health statistics, plan for future health needs, monitor the environment. • Virginia Public Health Association (VAPHA) • vapha.org • Virginia Department of Health (VDH) • www.vdh.state.va.us/

6. Federal Government • Department of Health and Human Services- sponsors health research, education, gathers and analyzes health information, sets health and safety standards, supports state and local departments, funds programs for people in need of public services.

7. Government responsibilities • Famine Relief is under the International Government • Social Services is run by the State Government • Immunizations are done through the Local Government • Safety at the worksite falls under the National Government • Drug smuggling is taken care of through the National Government • Pollution falls under the National Government • The international Government takes care of aid to developing countries

8. National Public Health Organizations • Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) • Collects data and conducts research on diseases • Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) • Work full time for one year in a federal, state or private nonprofit agency • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) • Protects the public from environmental hazards • Sets standards for safe exposure • Department of Agriculture (USDA) • Inspecting and grading meat, poultry and other farm products • School lunch programs • Food stamps

9. National public health organizations • National Institute of Health (NIH) • Conducts research in all areas of human health • Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) • Identifies occupational hazards and enforces safety standard laws • Food and Drug Administration (FDA) • Inspects, tests and assesses the safety of food, drugs and other consumer goods • Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) • Investigates and arrests suspected drug smuggling

10. National public health organizations • Agency for Health Care Policy and Research • Promotes improvements in the practice of medicine, the organization and financing of health care, and access to quality care. • Substance Abuse and Mental health Services Administration • Supports programs that prevent and treat mental illness and substance abuse • Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) • Funds health services and resources for underserved populations such as migrant workers, people with AIDS and the homeless • Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) • Investigates and assesses risks to human health from hazardous materials

11. International Health Agencies • World Health Organization (WHO) • Seek to help boost food production and prevent diseases through education and immunization programs • Collects worldwide health statistics to evaluate and predict health threats. • United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) • Aids children through immunization programs, daycare and health centers, school food programs, and training for nurses and teachers • Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) • Works to improve food production and distribution in developing countries

12. Independent and privately funded health organizations • Cooperative for American Relief Everywhere (CARE) • Privately funded • Provides healthcare, food, water, and emergency assistance to refugees and disaster victims • Red Cross • Privately funded • Aids victims of disasters and war • Oxford Committee for Famine Relief (OXFAM) • Privately funded • Food relief programs in famine areas

13. Independent and privately funded health organizations • United States Agency for International Development • Provides support for developing countries • Distribution of food to countries in famine • Oral-rehydration (severe water loss due to diarrhea is the leading cause of death for children in developing countries) • Peace Corps • U.S. Government organization • Trains volunteers for public health work in developing countries • Other Independent/Privately Funded Organizations • American Heart Association • American Cancer Society • March of Dimes • American Diabetes Association