Achievements and challenges
Public Health: advocating better health for everyone
We have come from this:
... to this:
How was this done?
By people interested in the health of the public who:
- understand the impact of disease and ill-health on different communities
- understand how to prevent the causes of disease and ill-health
What has public health achieved for the population?
- clean water and sanitation
- safe food
- safe working conditions
- fewer infectious diseases
- immunisation programmes covering whole populations
What has been the result?
- people living healthier and fitter lives for longer
- fewer infant and child deaths
And what are the new challenges now for public health workers?
- management of chronic diseases
- new infectious diseases
- climate change and its impact on health
- widening inequalities in health
- new lifestyle threats such as obesity and binge drinking
CURRENT ACHIEVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES IN PUBLIC HEALTH
Achievements
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Management of swine flu pandemic
-
New salt reduction targets in food
-
Banning of smoking in public places
-
Some reduction on smoking
-
Some improvements in life expectancy
Challenges
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Reducing alcohol consumption - particularly targeting binge drinking
-
Tackling the health effects of climate change in the UK
-
Reversing the rising tide of obesity and overweight in the population
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Smoking is still a problem for key sectors of society
-
Widening health inequalities and no reduction as yet in the social gradient of health
- Management of chronic diseases
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- Achievements and challenges in public health
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