Debbie Miller
This week we celebrate National Public Health Week. But just what is Public Health, what does Public Health do, and why is it important?
The American Public Health Association says public health promotes and protects the health of people and communities where they live, learn, work, and play. The CDC defines public health as the science of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities. Public health focuses on improving and protecting community health and wellbeing by preventing illnesses, diseases, and injuries among groups of people. A group of people could be as small as your neighborhood or as big as an entire country.
Unlike your doctor’s office or your hospital, public health’s patient is the neighborhood or the country. Think of it as the 3 P’s: Prevention, Protection, and Promotion – preventing illnesses and injuries; protecting vulnerable groups; and promoting healthy lifestyles. Public Health initiatives such as vaccinations, food safety regulations, and clear air and water policies have increased life expectancy in the United States by more than 30 years between 1900 and 2020.
Lawrence County Health Department’s vision is to be your partner for a strong and healthy community. This is our intention every single day. We do this by providing foundational public health services which are mandatory for all health departments such as making sure your food and water are safe to eat and drink, assuring that children and adults are immunized, and responding to disasters. We also provide core public health services including WIC, HANDS, and Harm Reduction. Additionally, we provide services that are considered local health priorities determined through a Community Health Assessment. Some of the local health priorities we address in Lawrence County are tobacco use and providing tobacco prevention education and cessation services, helping adults prevent diabetes and supporting those who have diabetes, and providing dental hygiene services for students.
Public health also works to eliminate health disparities and achieve health equity by addressing social determinants of health so that everyone has a fair opportunity to attain their highest level of health. Social determinants of health are the conditions in the places where people live, learn, work, play and worship that affect health risks and health outcomes. Examples are safe housing, transportation, access to nutritious foods, and physical activity opportunities. The Lawrence County Health Department recently collaborated with the Lawrence County Health Action Team and other community partners to develop a Community Health Improvement Plan which identified priority health issues and strategies for improvement. Some of the issues being addressed are access to healthcare and preventive services, obesity, and mental health. Please visit www.lawrencekyhealthactionteam.com to learn more and get involved.
I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the Lawrence County Health Department team for their commitment to improving health in Lawrence County. Last year, these dedicated individuals provided more than 1,200 HANDS home visits, nearly 2,500 immunizations, served 743 students with dental services and 800 with tobacco education, provided 567 environmental inspections, supported 271 with diabetes education and prevention, and distributed 462 doses of naloxone. If you see a health department team member, I invite you to say Thank You!
Be sure to follow us on Facebook and download our app. Search Lawrence County KY Health Department. Thank you for allowing us to serve the Lawerence County community.
Debbie Miller, Public Health Director
