Public Health Is a Science

Public health is a science and art that involves the protection and improvement of the health of communities through educating them, promotion of their lifestyles as well as doing research on diseases and preventing injuries. The core functions of public health are assessment, policy development and assurance. Assessment involves the monitoring of the health status as well as the environment and solves the environmental problems in the community. It also involves the diagnosis and investigation of the environmental health problems as well as health hazards found in the community. Policy development involves informing, educating as well as empowering the community on the environmental health issues. It also entails the development of polices and plans that are aimed at supporting individuals and the entire community on the environmental health efforts. Lastly, assurance involves law enforcements and regulations which protect environmental health and safety. It also involves assuring there is a competent environmental workforce in place (CDC, 2013). The scientific disciplines in public health are; Behavioral Science/Health Education, Biostatistics, Health, Emergency, Epidemiology, Nutrition, Maternal and Child Health, Public Health Policy and so on.

There are various achievements of public health and they include vaccine developments which have reduced the cases of deaths from the diseases which can be prevented by vaccines. It has also led to the prevention as well as control of infectious diseases such as TB. There has also been improvement in maternal and infant health since now there is more screening done to new born which paves way for early intervention and treatment of infants that are born with defects. There has also been improvement in the safety of motor vehicles since there has been development of some policies like car-seat requirements and seatbelt which have greatly contributed to a decline in the death rates related to motor vehicle travel. Occupational safety has also improved in many workplaces. Other achievements are decline in death due to coronary heart diseases and stroke, family planning eating foods that are safe and healthy and so on (South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, 2012).

Environmental studies and public health

Environmental studies are a field that incorporates mathematics, social sciences, geology, chemistry and biology so as to make an establishment of how human beings and the natural world form an interaction. Therefore environmental studies are of great importance to public health .the air we breathe, water that we drink, and the interaction which is complex between humans and the surrounding. Environmental studies help us understand how the build as well as the natural environment can influence the health of people in a community. It also helps us understand how the risk factors that cause certain diseases can be reduced. The environmental; risk factors can lead to development of diseases such as cancer, asthma and food poisoning. Due to incorporation of chemistry, engineering and toxicology in environmental studies there can be combined expertise that will help in answering public health related questions. Environmental health which is a discipline of both public health and environmental studies can be divided into various aspects like water quality, noise control, air quality, food protection, management of solid waste and so on. All these are important aspects that contribute to public health (Association of Schools of Public Health, 2013).