Written by Louise Maheo
“Public health” is a word we hear everywhere in Europe, but how do we define it clearly? This term could be described as an autonomous discipline, a science, or a professional practice, which studies the sanitary state of a community and the global health of the populations on all its aspects, curative, preventive, educational and social.
Consequently, the word “public health“ focuses on the community instead of the individual.
Public health as we know it today, has not been the same throughout the ages due to its constant evolution. Indeed, it has been treated in different ways, i.e. in the Middle Ages, when, due to religion, epidemics were considered to come from a divine cause. Thus, at that time, public health was limited to isolated actions to limit the epidemic, since there were no other means to avoid it, nor adequate research.
Later, in the 18th century, medical/scientific discoveries and the collective awareness of the importance of hygiene made prevention a matter of public health.
In the XIX century, scientific discoveries such as microbes and vaccines constituted a revolution in public health. As a result, one may see an accent on the link between the conditions of social life and the diseases, but especially the need for public hygiene.
Moreover, the creation of public showers as well as public toilets constituted a revolution regarding general sanitary access.
Then in the XX century, health became a political matter in many countries, which can be seen when specific ministries were created as well as the right to health.
Hospital Sant Pau – Barcelona
Where are we now?
What’s going on in the 21st century and what is the current state of public health? We have seen mortality decline; health inequalities have hardened; and access to care has become expensive.
I had the amazing opportunity to interview 5 professionals from different walks of life, who gave us informative answers.
How can we increase the health budget?
“A way to increase the health budget is to find more partners/sponsors in the public health industry who support Homeless Entrepreneurs. We could get help from them by using inbound marketing strategies. We could pitch our story as a company and what we are trying to accomplish as an organization. By doing this we can form relationships and build trust. With their donation and support not only would we be able to receive more money for the health budget, it would also make them aware of who we are trying to attract.”
How can we bring more care to the homeless?
“I would presume that stronger collaboration between different social bodies within different communities and established health care systems would be essential to the expansion of care for the homeless population.”
“First of all, we need to start with prevention. The second point is that the intervention must involve both the health and the social services. Pay more attention to those who live on the street. If we don’t solve the situation through the social services and through employment services, these people go back to the streets, and they will need receive the same support over and over again.”
What do hospitals currently need to revive?
“In terms of hospitals, I would say that increased funding is an obvious answer as well as an increase in staff. Establishing a supportive work environment for staff in hospitals is likely to also be necessary for productivity and patient care in its entirety.”
If you could improve one process or protocol after an experience at hospital, what would it be and why?
“My view is based on Nigerian hospitals...
1: Record keeping should be strictly computerized
2: Hospitals should start treatment on emergency patients rather than demanding deposit and watching people die(Doctors are called to save life not the other way round)
3: Employ more workers, train more CNA, PCT e.t.c
4: Discipline lazy and unserious staffs.”
“Having a centralized medical record system (in compliance with privacy policies) would cut down substantially on the need for extensive paperwork that needs to be filled out each time. If a patient’s medical history (including medicines, conditions, allergies) can be made accessible to the HCP wherever they’re getting treatment, it’ll help streamline the process and enhance accuracy too.”
With the current health crisis that started in 2020, it has become necessary to direct public health in the field of promotion, prevention and especially related to the improvement of health. We must continue monitoring and improving health security.
To conclude, public health is what allows us to study the public health of the population and think about solutions to improve its current state.
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