How Public Health Works Behind the Scenes to Keep You Safe and Healthy
Thank a Public Health Worker This National Public Health Week
You may not think about public health much, unless the news mentions a disease outbreak or food recall. But public health affects your life — and your community — every day. Public health professionals are always working for you, operating behind the scenes and creating safeguards to help everyone stay healthy and safe.
So, what is public health, exactly? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines public health as the science of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities. This is different from health care because public health focuses on everyone’s health rather than individual health.
Public health includes all of the programs, systems, policies, and regulations designed to help keep people and communities safe, prevent disease, and encourage choices that promote good health.
This year is the 30th anniversary of National Public Health Week, which is recognized the first week of April.
During National Public Health Week, the American Public Health Association focuses on a different topic daily. You can learn more about each topic by clicking the link associated with the day.
- April 7: It Starts Here: Your Health is Our Mission
- April 8: Climate Action Starts Here: Championing Resilience for Health
- April 9: Health Equity Starts Here: Optimizing Health for All
- April 10: Advocacy Starts Here: Amplifying Voices for Public Health
- April 11: The Future of Public Health Starts Here: Strengthening the Public Health Workforce
Why Does Public Health Matter?
Public health is important because it helps keep everyone healthy. Here are a few examples of the things public health professionals do every day:
- Track disease outbreaks across the community, county, state, and nation as a whole
- Create health education campaigns to address vaccine misinformation in communities and promote vaccines as a safe and effective way to prevent disease.
- Develop nutrition programs to help people with limited budgets get nourishing food.
- Promote policies that keep people safe, including smoke-free indoor air laws and seatbelt regulations.
- Provide education and assistance with drinking water safety and environmental hazards like radon.
- Create and share resources, information, and programs to support parents, expectant parents, and children.
- Issue licenses and credentials for health care providers and clinics.
- Handle disciplinary action for health care providers and clinics.
Public health shows up in so many parts of life: clean air, safe food and water, and strong and healthy families and communities.
Learn more about what public health does for you and your community by visiting the Washington State Department of Health website.
Don’t forget to thank a public health worker this week for everything they do to help keep everyone safe and healthy!
