Role of Public Health What Essay

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The Florida public health fact sheet lists only six of the ten services, but it presents several roles that it assumes, including "Health Protection" against naturally occurring environmental conditions. One can take for granted this is referring to hurricanes when the fact sheet explains that "…environmental conditions… are often of such magnitude and complexity that only government can mount an adequate response" (www.doh.state.fl.us). It is clear that a major hurricane slamming into Florida could contaminate the "air, ground, water, and food" so a reader assumes the Florida Health fact sheet is talking about protecting citizens from the fury and the aftermath of a hurricane. Public health agencies have their work cut out for them protecting people from all the damage and contamination that can occur when a hurricane strikes.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued an "Agenda for the 21st Century" that offers important steps to be taken to ensure the public health departments are providing the services they should be providing. There is a "widening gap," the report contends, between "challenges to improve the health of Americans" and the "capacity of the public health workforce to meet those challenges" (HHS).
This report asserts that in order to meet the challenges to create "Healthy People in Healthy Communities" several barriers must be overcome. The lack of knowledge of workforce competencies and lack of "formal training in public health" are two barriers that need to be addressed in many communities. "Indecision" about workforce requirements and a shortage of funding ("stable funding") are two more problems to be addressed. Also, when there is a failure to utilize "advanced technology to its full potential" and inadequate training available, these issues effectively reduce available resources.

Conclusion

There are a myriad of health services available in public health agencies across the United States. While public health agencies do not fill the role of health insurance for citizens, they do provide many important public health services, including the ability to respond to reports of child abuse or neglect, certain product safety issues, and workplace safety and health issues. The most vital service that a public health agency can provide, most professionals in the field would agree, is to monitor and respond to threats of communicable diseases, before they spread into the community, potentially causing an epidemic.

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