What is Public
Health?
Many Canadians are familiar with the health care system
and how it works. However, fewer Canadians have a good understanding
of what public health is, how it is organized and where
it fits within the overall health system in Canada.
Having the medical services we need when we are sick is
vital, but public health focuses on what we need to do as
a society to help everyone stay healthy. Public health is
part of every aspect of our lives, from our homes to our
workplaces, and our schools to our communities. It encompasses
everything we do, from the food we eat to the safety of
our environment, and from access to safe walking/biking
trails to preventing the outbreak of disease. Public health
is about the way we live.
“Public health is often
described as the science and art of promoting health,
preventing disease, prolonging life and improving
quality of life through the organized efforts of society.”
Learning from SARS,
Renewal of Public Health in Canada, 2003 |
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