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<title>Health Matters Yes But What Has Public Health Done For Me Lately</title>
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<p align="center"><b><font face="Verdana" size="5" color="#0000FF">Health
Matters</font></b></p>
<p align="center"><b><font face="Verdana" size="4">"Yes, But What Has
Public Health Done For Me Lately"</font></b></p>
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<font face="Verdana" size="2">The beauty, and the dilemma, when something
is working well, is that it ceases to attract much attention. Let the
traffic lights at a busy intersection malfunction, and one becomes
painfully aware of their importance. The same might be said of Public
Health. <br>
<br>
This past fall, with reports of deaths in relationship to the flu, people
were made aware of the need for the Department of Public Health, at least
partly because they the distribute the flu vaccine. When the news media is
focused on stories about Mad Cow or Monkey Pox, the health of this nation
becomes an issue of import. But, as with all sensational stories, as these
issues are expertly handled, they drift off the radar. Life resumes,
awaiting the next crisis, or hot topic. This is as it has always been.
However, when the subject is the health of the people, there are some that
stay involved and on top of the mundane, day to day minor occurrences
that, if left unattended, would most likely be the next headlines. <br>
<br>
What is it that those in public health do? That meal eaten at that very
nice restaurant, might not have been that nice if the restaurant had not
been inspected by licensed sanitarians. Been to a public pool in the
summer? Water quality, sanitation inspections, and investigations of
illness, all done by public health professionals, insure that your swim
will be a healthy one. When was the last case of polio in anyone�s
neighborhood? If you were a child in the 50�s, you probably have first
hand knowledge of that illness, which has been all but eliminated,
globally, due to public health efforts.<br>
<br>
Childhood immunizations, keeping cigarettes out of children�s hands, fuel
assistance for those in need, seat belts, car seats, wellness clinics,
skin cancer screenings, glaucoma screenings, disease investigations,
epidemiology, septic inspections, daycare licensing, camp licensing,
traveling meals for the elderly, referrals for food stamps and the food
pantry, safe work places, safe apartments, disaster planning, keeper and
distributors of vaccines, advocates for those without the strength or
voice to advocate for themselves, and so much more, just done quietly,
expertly, compassionately.<br>
<br>
In the wake of 9/11, fears about the re-emergence of smallpox, as the
result of a bioterrorism assault, made headlines. Public health organized
and met the challenge by vaccinating many health professionals and
training thousands of other in the technique of administration of the
vaccine, in the event that it were ever to become necessary. Here in,
Needham, a plan is in place that would allow the entire population of
Needham to be vaccinated against smallpox within three days. Public
Health, quite literally, takes on the challenges and problems of the whole
population to keep them well. So much of what is done is preventative. <br>
Prevention is not a sensational news story. There is no glamour associated
with the elimination of a health hazard. When public health does its job
well, it�s invisible. It is hard <br>
to convince those responsible for funding to fund what has become
invisible. If public health had a creative spin-doctor, maybe then it
would be a hot topic. Bioterrorism has become the disease of the decade,
with the largest share of federal funding going to that cause, while other
illnesses that kill people every day, such as heart disease, diabetes, and
lung disease, are being neglected. Under funding public health is nearly
always a shortsighted, and ultimately expensive, business. Routine
immunizations have saved untold lives. Thousands of women can learn about
proper prenatal care for less money than it takes to treat one, extremely
ill, or premature newborn. Not very exciting. So very important.<br>
<br>
For more information about this topic or other health related issues,
please call us at the Needham Health Department at 781-455-7523. </font>
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<font face="Verdana" size="4">Needham is our public; your health is our
department.</font></u><font face="Verdana" size="2"><br>
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