May 9 2001
A Dictionary of Epidemiology, 3rd edition, 1995, Oxford University Press, ed. John M.Last
"Public Health...
Public health is one of the efforts organized by society to protect, promote and restore the people's health. It is the combination of sciences, skills, and beliefs that is directed to the maintenance and improvement of the health of all the people through collective or social actions. The programs, services and institutions involved emphasize the prevention of disease (,) and the health needs of the population as a whole. Publichealth activities change with changing technology and social values, but the goals remain the same: to reduce the amount of diseaase, permature death and disease-produced discomfort and disability in the population. Public health is thus a social institution, a discipline and a practice. The Acheson Report offered a more succinct definition: The science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and dpromoting health through organized efforts of society."
Permit me an editorial comment and mini-rant. I particularly enjoy this definition as well as its source not only for clarity and general good English usage, but also because neither the definition nor the book includes the horrible word "wellness". The day I understand the difference between "wellness" and "health" as they apply in "public health", I will feel fully qualified to become what George Orwell might have pointed out as a perfect example of Newspeak, a "Minister of Health and Wellness". Apparently "health" on its own is somehow inadequate. Here in Canada, the province of New Brunswick now calls its Ministry boss honcho the "Minister of Health and Wellness" and the relevant department in the province of Alberta is called "Alberta Health and Wellness". To quote Orwell at his zenith of brilliance (Politics and the English Language, 1946) "Political language...is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind..."
Sincerely,
P.F.Hall, Winnipeg
Philip F. Hall, MD BScMed FRCSC
Director, Fetal Assessment, Provincial Obstetric Outreach and Maternal-Fetal Medicine Programs
St.Boniface General Hospital, 409 Tache Avenue D2044
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R2H 2A6
ph 204-237-2547 FAX 204-233-1751
(Chair, Obs & Gyn Specialty Committee,
Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada)
Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba
<www.umanitoba.ca/womens_health>
>>> Klazien Matter-Walstra <[log in to unmask]> 05/09/01 10:16am >>>
Dear Listmembers,
Can anybody provide me with some clear and detailled definitions of "Public
Health" ?
Thanks for all replies
Klazien
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Klazien Matter-Walstra
Innerbergstrasse 55
CH-3044 Innerberg, Switzerland
tel/fax +41(0)31 829 29 44,
mobile +41(0)79 270 89 69
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