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Our weekly news column bringing the most current, non-biased health
information to the consumer. |
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April 7, 2009 |
A Publication of QVHD |
Public Health and Your Community
By: V. Deborah Culligan, RN, MPH,
Deputy Director QVHD
The week of April 6-12,
2009 is National Public Health Week. Public health works on a national,
state and local level. Most people do not have any idea of how public
health works in their lives, yet public health has contributed some of
the most important health initiatives that this country has ever seen.
The mission of public health is to promote physical and mental health
and prevent disease, injury and disability. Public health works to:
Prevent epidemics and the spread of disease; Protect against
environmental hazards; Prevent injuries; Promote and encourage healthy
behaviors; Respond to disasters and assist communities in recovery; and
to assure the quality and accessibility of health services.
Some of the public health initiatives and/or actions that have impacted
your life (that you may not realize) are: Public health campaigns that
targeted issues such as seat belts, smoking, lead poisoning, helmet use,
cardiovascular disease and AIDS; Immunization campaigns for both
children and adults; A Public Health code which ensures that your septic
system will work properly; your well water will be clean; and
inspections of restaurants, day cares, clinics, and other such
facilities will occur; and Emergency Preparedness activities.
Consider this story: You wake up and jump into the shower, taking for
granted the safety of the water. As you flush the toilet, you realize
you have never really thought about proper disposal and how it works.
You enter the kitchen. You reach for the milk with confidence that is a
safe, healthy food for your healthy children, all of whom have been
immunized against diseases, which were deadly in days gone-by. You pack
the kids in the car, remembering to buckle up seat belts and safety
seats. It's a habit now, thanks to public health messages. One child is
dropped off at the daycare center, and the other at school. You know
that their environment is safe and healthy , thanks to public health
inspections and training. You go to work in a smoke-free environment,
now commonly occurring thanks to those committed to public health. For
lunch break, you eat at a near-by restaurant. You see their license on
the wall, and know public health has been working for you. At the end of
the day, your family decides to go for a swim at the community pool. Did
you know that public health is working there too, to protect you by
inspecting pools?
Today Americans enjoy better health, live in healthier conditions, know
more about how to take care of their health, and live longer than at any
other time in the past. To a large extent, these trends are results of
the efforts and activities or Public Health.
For written information on Public Health, District residents can call
QVHD,
248-4528. Visit our website at
www.qvhd.org.
| An Ounce of Prevention is a
publication of the Quinnipiack Valley Health District, located at
1151 Hartford Turnpike, North Haven, CT 06473. Telephone:
248-4528. An Ounce of Prevention is
written by V. Deborah Culligan. The articles are published in the following local newspapers, The Advisor &
Beth-Wood News.
The content is provided as health education and
information to help you make health decisions. It is not intended to
be legal or medical advice, or substitute for recommendations made
by your health care provider. Address all comments to the district
office. |
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