Hooray for Public Health!

In May, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) named the top ten public health achievements in the United States from 2001 – 2011. They list strides in improving maternal and child health, as well as motor vehicle safety. Other advances have been made in cancer prevention, occupational safety, and childhood lead poisoning prevention. Rounding out the list are emergency preparedness, vaccine-preventable disease prevention, prevention and control of infectious diseases, cardiovascular disease prevention, and tobacco control.

Since I’ve worked in public health for 20 years, I find this list extremely exciting, because I’ve overseen countless projects addressing the concerns listed above. Citizens need to realize just how much public health deserves our praise.

Here is a brief overview.

1.  Maternal and Infant Health

Some ways local health departments address this include: new baby visits, breastfeeding lessons, pre-natal care, as well as education on the importance of folic acid in a pregnant woman’s diet.

2.  Motor Vehicle Safety

As a Safe Community Coalition Coordinator, I did projects to increase seatbelt and helmet usage. And, seat belt legislation and safer cars really do make an impact on improving safety in vehicles.

3.  Cancer Prevention

Public health has continued to stress the importance of early cancer screenings for all types of cancers. Believe it or not, two decades ago people rarely thought of getting screenings.

4.  Occupational Safety

The CDC reports farm safety has improved greatly in the past 10 years, as well as work place safety. Much education has also been done concerning proper lifting techniques.

5.  Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention

Because many children in the US are exposed to lead in older homes, health departments across the nation assist landlords and homeowners. In essence, lead must be removed safely, and children who have been exposed must be tested.

6.  Emergency Preparedness and Response

Since 9/11, public health began improving preparedness and response to all kinds of emergencies. For several years, I participated in “mock” disasters with the health departments where I worked. I learned how to use satellite phones, how to set up a mass vaccination clinic, how to inform the public about an emergency…and much more! Citizens, the US government is ready.

7.  Vaccines

Vaccinations prevent illness and death; most understand this fact. Over the past 10 years, new vaccines have helped to save even more lives, especially deaths related to pneumonia.

8.  Infectious Disease Control

Accomplishments in this category include better tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS control. In addition, ways to screen blood for West Nile Virus were developed.

9.  Cardiovascular Disease Prevention

Because of many factors, including better medications and screenings, there have been improvements in heart disease and stroke death rates.

10. Tobacco Control

Efforts to reduce tobacco use among adults and youth have paid off.  Less people are smoking, and fewer children are picking up the habit. Also, many states have smoke-free workplace laws.

The bottom line?  As stated by the CDC, “From 1999 to 2009, the age-adjusted death rate in the United States declined from 881.9 per 100,000 population to 741.0, a record low…” As you can see, what public health does matters!

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