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County health official: “Public health plays a vital role in everything we do”

Public Health: It’s YOUR Health!

By: Kara Ruge, Marketing & Public Information Officer

So what is public health? Many of you have probably asked yourselves this question in the past. Maybe you’ve answered “It’s immunizations.”  You are correct. Maybe you’ve answered “It’s home care.” You are also correct. But have you ever answered “Well, it’s everything from water testing, restaurant inspections, infectious disease investigation, nutrition and fitness, mosquito surveillance, etc.?” My guess is probably not. To make things simple, the correct answer is, public health is YOUR health.

Public health plays a vital role in everything we do, every day. It is the work of promoting and protecting the health of people and the environments they live and work in. Public health professionals work to prevent illnesses and injuries before they happen. This can mean vaccinating people to prevent the spread of disease, or educating people on how to cook and serve food properly, or informing people of the health risks associated with tobacco use. This can also include improving things that impact our health such as housing, education, transportation, access to quality health care, and access to physical activity areas. Public Health also includes educating our youth on making good choices now so they can live the healthiest lives possible.

Public health also develops policies and creates policy change to ensure the health of all people is protected.  For example, laws that promote smoke-free air indoors (and out), and seatbelts. The Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health recently developed an ordinance related to how private wells are drilled to eliminate the risk for Arsenic contamination. We have also developed policies related to the operation and management of Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), and many more!

As public health professionals, we know we are doing our job well when you don’t hear about us. When you hear about public health on the front page of the news, it’s usually because there has been a serious infectious disease case, or a foodborne outbreak, or a disaster. The interesting part about this? That’s how it should be. Public health’s goal is to PREVENT illnesses and injuries before they happen. Therefore, if we can prevent them, you won’t hear about them.

Every day, we strive to protect the public through vaccines, STD/HIV testing, food inspections, tattoo parlor inspections, swimming pool inspections, septic system inspections, mosquito surveillance, groundwater testing, education on chronic diseases, programs to prevent diabetes and other obesity related diseases, tobacco education, and the list goes on and on.

Think about what you do on a normal day. Most of us wake up. Are you waking up in a house free of radon? Public health can test your home for radon to be sure. Next you probably get a shower. How clean is your water? Public health tests for and monitors your private well water. Then you may cook some breakfast. Public health inspects and monitors the facilities that your food (no matter if it’s fresh or processed) comes from. Now, it’s time to head to work. Do you have accessible, safe transportation and routes to work? We work with area law makers to ensure access to good transportation is possible. Once you arrive at work, your business has decided to implement a tobacco policy which saves you from second hand smoke or encourages you to quit smoking due to the inconvenience it would be. At noon you have a meeting with a catered meal. Guess who inspected the food establishment that prepared that meal? You got it! Public health! Overall, how did you feel today? Did you feel ill? Maybe you were vaccinated against many illnesses and diseases so your body was able to fight off the many germs you came in contact with today. You can thank public health (and your strengthened immune system for that). Finally, it’s time to go home. Unfortunately, you pass by a vehicle accident on your way home. Thank goodness for seatbelts! Who do you suppose developed and pushed for seatbelt legislation? You got it! Public health! Thankfully you are now home! Rest easy knowing public health helped take care of you today (and you didn’t even know it)!

Public health is your health. It’s as simple as that. It’s the health of the public and that’s you!

The Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health has been serving county residents for over 25 years. We provide over 50 programs and services to the public to ensure they are kept safe and healthy. It is our mission to optimize the health of all people in Cerro Gordo County – that means YOU! We are here to be a resource for you. Know us before you need us!

For more information on how the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health can be of assistance to you, contact us at 641-421-9300 or visit www.cghealth.com.

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