What is Public Health
Public health is the branch of medicine that aims to improve the health of the entire population and prevent people from getting sick or injured in the first place. It also addresses the health of populations or groups, in order to identify and reduce health inequities.
Public health includes a wide range of health professionals, including doctors with specialty training in community health, nurses, public health inspectors, epidemiologists, environmental health officers, laboratory scientists, policy analysts, dietitians, health promoters, tobacco control officers and mental health and addictions specialists.
Public health affects all of us, which means everyone -- not just health-care professionals -- has a role to play in promoting the overall health of the population. Community leaders, teachers, principals, families, employers, social, cultural and health organizations and sports and recreation clubs all contribute to public health.
Public Health in Manitoba
In Manitoba, this work is led by the Office of the Chief Provincial Public Health Officer, and the public and population health branch of government. Their work focuses on:
- health promotion,
- disease and injury prevention,
- emergency preparedness,
- population health assessment and surveillance, and
- protecting the health of the population as a whole.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the important work of public health in Manitoba, as it relates to studying how disease spreads throughout a population and managing outbreaks. However, public health goes well beyond these pandemic response measures.
Public Health in Canada
In Canada, the term "public health" is sometimes confused with our publicly funded health-care system. Publicly funded health care means that our overall health-care system (e.g., hospitals, clinics) is funded by taxpayers' dollars. Public health is one important part of Canada's publicly funded health-care system. Public health aims to prevent people from getting sick or injured in the first place.
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) was created in 2004 as part of the federal health portfolio. Its activities focus on preventing chronic disease and injuries, responding to public health threats, promoting good physical and mental health and providing information to support informed decision-making. Federal, provincial and territorial governments work collaboratively through the Pan-Canadian Public Health Network to improve public health in Canada. They meet regularly to share knowledge and information on best practices in public health and to develop and implement efficient, collaborative approaches.
Did You Know?
Since the early 1900s, the average lifespan of Canadians has increased by more than 30 years, and 25 of those are linked to advances in public health. This includes the control of infectious disease, the decline in deaths from heart disease and stroke, improved maternal and child health, workplace safety, vaccination, motor vehicle safety, the recognition of tobacco as a health hazard and food safety.
Each chief medical officer of health across Canada is responsible for the protection and promotion of the health of the public and for the prevention of disease and injury within their provinces or territories. They work collaboratively on the Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health, a pan-Canadian forum that promotes excellence in population and public health practice. Through communication, collaboration and the exchange of ideas, knowledge, experience and best practices, chief medical officers of health are able to advance public health across Canada as a whole and in their respective jurisdictions.
