What role do public health policies play in preventing the spread of infectious diseases, and how can they be improved?
Cities are urban regions which harbor large volumes of economic, social, and political interactions. They tend to be the zones of productivity and creativity. However, a large volume of people within a narrow area poses threats to the potential outbreak of diseases. For this reason, urban planning aRead more
Cities are urban regions which harbor large volumes of economic, social, and political interactions. They tend to be the zones of productivity and creativity. However, a large volume of people within a narrow area poses threats to the potential outbreak of diseases. For this reason, urban planning and the construction of infrastructure facilities have proved crucial in prevention from the spread of infectious diseases.
Some of the critical ones include are:
1. Improved Sanitation Infrastructure: – There should be proper sewage disposal systems and sewage plants and proper storm water drainage systems to avoid the risk of water-borne diseases. – Proper collection, transport, and disposal of the solid wastes will help eliminate or at least minimize the chances of vector-borne diseases. – In the presence of a barrier of disease-causing organisms, a safe supply of water is an essential factor in health.
2. Urban Planning and Zoning: – In regulating the density and the zoning of certain parts of the city, it helps in reducing incidences of population explosions that lead to settlement patterns known as slums, which are unhygienic and prone to diseases. – The idea of provision of open spaces in the urban planning is yet another factor which relaxes the minds of city dwellers by enhancing the fresh air available to them and improvement of their mental health as well.
3. Public Health Infrastructure: Health Facility: Ensuring an adequate number of hospitals and clinics for diagnosing, treating, and controlling diseases. Health Education and Promotion : Health promotion activities can improve practice of hygiene, uptake of vaccines, and awareness on diseases control.
4. Community Participation: Community Involvement- it means that the community is involved in present issues and has a say in certain decisions made.
5. Social Mobilization: Improves outcome levels through community participation and population involvement in sanitation and hygiene activities.
These will then see healthier livable cities, less suffering from infectious diseases among urban dwellers thereby raising the general standard of living of such individuals.
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One essential aspect of health is the implementation of public health policies as they assist in curtailing the spread of infectious diseases by exploring the avenues which may transmit the disease as well as enhancing the health of the people or given population. These include; -Vaccination ProgramRead more
One essential aspect of health is the implementation of public health policies as they assist in curtailing the spread of infectious diseases by exploring the avenues which may transmit the disease as well as enhancing the health of the people or given population. These include;
-Vaccination Programs: The vast vaccination programs, aimed at providing herd immunity against measles, polio and flu as well as other diseases.
-Sanitation and Hygiene: By providing access to clean water, proper sanitation and hygiene to prevent the transmission of water and faeces related diseases.
-Development of Surveillance and Monitoring: Building up of appropriate control and monitoring systems to keep trace of infectious disease outbreaks and therefore initiate control measures early enough.
-Diseases Control through Isolation/Quarantine: Containment or control of outbreak of infections through quarantine and isolation of the identified infected persons.
-Health Policy’s Contextualization: Introduce health policies seeking to coordinate national practices on health, within a global spectrum, to avoid any possibilities of trans-boundary diseases.
-Public Health Education: Awareness campaigns to the public on management of the disease, its prevention, and the administration of the vaccines.
With respect to enhancing Nation’s health policy, certain strategies for improvement include the following;
-Strength of Health Systems: Preparedness and response by strengthening the health system components of infrastructure, human resources and research.
-Intersectoral Collaboration: Build relationships between the health sector and those responsible for social determinants of health including education and work in order to promote equity and lessen health differences.
-Empowerment of Communities: Enhancing their involvement, where they are encouraged to take an active role in policy formulation concerning health and actual health practices, where they stand to gain.
-Policy Change: Sustaining the present scientific knowledge and modifying them when necessary to cope with new communicable diseases and resistance to antimicrobial agents.
– Equity Focused: Equipping every individual with the necessary health services and resources without regard to their location or social class.
This may be particularly true regarding the burden of infectious diseases which can be greatly reduced through the introduction of adequate public health measures and controlling the socioeconomic conditions which promote the disease.
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