Public health

Public health is an aspect of health services concerned with threats to the overall health of a community based on population health analysis. It generally includes surveillance and control of infectious disease and promotion of healthy behaviors among members of the community. Prevention is another important principle: both vaccination programs and free distribution of condoms are public health measures. Public health promotes not simply the absence of disease but mental, physical, and emotional well-being. The WHO sets standards and provides global surveillance, but national bodies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia in the USA and their local affiliated Medical Officer of Health are usually the lead in responding to public health threats. The frontline on public health initiatives are state and local health departments. The Surgeon General lead United States Public Health Service (U.S.P.H.S.) is also a national leader in public health activites. The major postgraduate degree related to this field is the Masters in Public Health (M.P.H.), while the United States Residency specialty is Community or Public Health Medicine.

Related Topics:
Population health analysis - Infectious disease - Promotion of healthy behaviors - Prevention - Vaccination - Condom - WHO - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Atlanta, Georgia - USA - Medical Officer of Health - Health department

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