Individuals eager to bring about a positive change in their communities must consider a career in public health. It primarily focuses on managing and preventing plague outbreaks (such as Covid’19) and addressing healthcare challenges, such as pollution, substance abuse, mental health, etc.
Public healthcare workers are concerned with the well-being of the masses. Their emphasis is on creating an environment in which societies can be healthy. They believe in finding solutions (to health-related problems) to make our lives happier, comfortable, and more productive.
In the current situation, the need for these kind-hearted professionals has peaked. Here is a list of ways in which public healthcare workers make a positive and ever-lasting impact on their communities:
- Ensuring Food Safety:
Foodborne diseases are one of the leading factors of the deterioration of health in people worldwide. It is a grave issue that must be addressed and managed. Contaminated foods such as meat, chicken, leafy vegetables, nuts, frozen foods, cheese, etc., are a threat to the lives of those who consume them and present a significant challenge for public healthcare workers. Experts work with the state and local health departments to look at the causes of food contamination. They also assist decision-makers in developing national-level strategies to ensure food safety.
It is essential to have a relevant educational background to support the policymakers in regulating sustainable food safety standards across the country. You can apply for a Master’s degree in the public health sector to acquire the prerequisite qualifications. Alternatively, if you are a practicing healthcare professional with a tight schedule but wish to stay abreast with the evolving approaches in the healthcare sector, you can opt for a masters in public health online (from anywhere in the world) without compromising your current commitments. Education will better equip you to manage health emergencies.
2- Controlling Alcohol-Related Problems:
Many people all around the globe lose their lives due to excessive alcohol consumption each year. It is a major cause of car accidents. At least 1 in 10 deaths amongst adults is caused by excessive drinking. Many violence-related issues (sexual/physical assaults, homicide, and vandalism) and health-related problems (stillbirths, fertility issues, and risky sexual behaviors) are associated with excessive drinking problems. On an individual level, drinking is known to cause high blood pressure, liver diseases, cancer memory problems, and mental health problems, only to name a few.
Public healthcare workers around the globe are working tirelessly to manage this issue. The amount and frequency of alcohol intake combined with the characteristics of social and physical environments can either increase or decrease the risks of drinking. When you become a public healthcare worker, you will conduct extensive research to find possible solutions to address alcoholism in your community. You will continuously run campaigns against alcohol abuse and provide relentless counseling and support to those who wish to become sober.
- Preventing HIV
HIV is a life-threatening, sexually transmitted disease all over the world. While significant progress has been made to prevent it, there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done to curb this disease. Now you also have Rapid hiv test kit which gives you results immediately for the test.
Thanks to the nurses and sexual health counselors, the graph for this disease has declined. They have been advising and reminding the masses to use precaution while engaging in sexual activities and will continue to do till scientists discover a vaccine. They also recommend adults not to share their needles or razors. If you acquire a degree in public health, you can make a noticeable difference in your community by raising awareness about HIV Treatment.
- Preventing Heart Diseases:
Heart diseases cause many deaths all over the world each year. Prevention of heart diseases includes keeping a check on blood pressure, cholesterol, LDL, HDL, smoking, and drinking. Stroke is a common heart problem. It can affect mobility and often cause significant disabilities. Healthcare professionals advise the masses, especially the elderly, to go for regular checkups, blood tests and consume healthy food to keep this severe disease at bay.
- Stop Healthcare-Associated Infections:
Healthcare-associated infections happen when many patients are being treated in one hospital or community center at the same time. Patients are at risk of catching different inflammations, including bloodstream toxicities, urinary tract infections, surgical site microbes, etc., from each other.
During the ongoing pandemic, when hospitals are working at their maximum potential, healthcare-associated infections have also risen. As a result, the situation now has become even more alarming than before. Public healthcare professionals observe the contamination pattern and develop ways to curb them.
- Reduce Tobacco Use:
Smoking has always been a grave problem for countless communities across the country. It is the leading cause of death too. Public healthcare workers have been working tirelessly to prevent this abuse and will continue to do so in the future too.
Prices of tobacco have increased as an attempt to reduce the use of tobacco. Depending on the location, many states have also administered smoke-free policies in public spaces to protect nonsmokers. As a concerned healthcare worker, you can help people quit smoking and spread smiles in their lives.
- Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Avoiding Obesity:
People all around the world are aware of the fact that poor nutrition, obesity, and lack of physical activity cause numerous health issues. As a care provider, you will conduct researches and develop possible regulations that community leaders can apply to promote healthy lifestyles. Many schools have strict policies to provide quality meals to all their students and ensure that only fresh food is served. To avoid obesity, fitness centers and health instructors help individuals calculate their body mass index and guide them to maintain a healthy weight by incorporating exercises in their daily routine.
- Support Teen Mothers:
Various issues arise with teen pregnancies, like ensuring the baby is healthy and that the mother has enough resources and support to take care of her baby. Teenagers need constant help from parents and loved ones in raising their newborns. Public healthcare workers play a critical part here for those teenage mothers who don’t have their families to support them. They arrange daycare centers for the babies and ensure that nursing mothers are looked after well. Additionally, they help young adults make wise choices regarding their relationships and sexual activity.
Conclusion:
All the reasons listed above prove that the role of public health professionals cannot be understated. Therefore, anyone who wishes to help communities and change peoples’ lives should look into this field. There’s nothing better than offering support to someone in need and spreading happiness around.
