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The history of public health goes back to ancient times. It became a matter of concern with the development of civilization. As cities developed, the concentration of population led to health problems that were generally avoided by hunter-gatherer peoples. At the time, disease and health were generally seen as the work of the gods, although sme civilizatins began to lay the basis for scientific work. The Egyptians learned a great deal, in part bcause of their interest in embalming. (Later scientific work becme difficult because of laws against disection.)
They Egyptians did not, however, begin to develop science. The Greeks dis and many modern sciences trace their hitory to Greek thinkers. China also discovered a great deal, but also did not lay the foundation for scientific investigation. Modern public health based on scientific understanding did not begin in a serious way until the 19th century. It is a this time that modern science began to reach a critical mass and it became possible to understand and treat many diseases. As a result, the importance of public health and government support for a public health infrastructure began to emerge. The public and government officials began to appreciate the link between the environment, espcially the urban enviroment, and health. Scientists proved the germ theory and ways to protect people from infection. There was at first a laissez faire approach to health issues. Government issued few if any health regulations. And as part of social reforms of the Victorian era. governments began a range of efforts to improve the health of the population. Industrialization had led to increases in urban population and this migration from rural areas to cities steadily increased during the 19th century. Many problems surfaced in Victorian Britain because the Industrial Revolution and the raid groth of cities began there. The British thus faced increasing problems with sanitation and overcrowding that lincreased the opportunity for serious disease outbreaks. At the same time modern public health policies began to take shape. Britain set up the National Vaccination Board (1837). Social reformer and lawyer Edwin Chadwick (1800-1890) published his landmark work--"Report on the Inquiry into Sanitary Conditions of the Laboring Population of Great Britain (1842). Chadwick outlined the major public health challenges facing Britain which launched the reform process. While not a scientist or doctor, the central public health administration he championed promoted the �sanitary idea�. The agency assisted local authorities to build drains, sewers, street cleaning and the a range of environmental regulations. These addressed housing, nuisances, and offensive trades.Across the Atlantic, Lemual Shattuck (1793-1859) in Boston released his seminal report on public health (1850). Shattuck outlined the public health needs in the state of Massachusetts which were basically the needs of America writ large. He recommended the establisgment of a state board of health which would be the first in the nation.
The history of public health goes back to ancient times. It became a matter of concern with the development of civilization. As cities developed, the concentration of population led to health problems that were generally avoided by hunter-gatherer peoples. At the time, disease and health were generally seen as the work of the gods, although sme civilizatins began to lay the basis for scientific work. The Egyptians learned a great deal, in part bcause of their interest in embalming. (Later scientific work becme difficult because of laws against disection.)
They Egyptians did not, however, begin to develop science. The Greeks dis and many modern sciences trace their hitory to Greek thinkers. China also discovered a great deal, but also did not lay the foundation for scientific investigation.
Modern public health based on scientific understanding did not begin in a serious way until the 19th century. It is a this time that modern science began to reach a critical mass and it became possible to understand and treat many diseases. As a result, the importance of public health and government support for a public health infrastructure began to emerge. The public and government officials began to appreciate the link between the environment, espcially the urban enviroment, and health. Scientists proved the germ theory and ways to protect people from infection.
There was at first a laissez faire approach to health issues. Government issued few if any health regulations. And as part of social reforms of the Victorian era. governments began a range of efforts to improve the health of the population. Industrialization had led to increases in urban population and this migration from rural areas to cities steadily increased during the 19th century. Many problems surfaced in Victorian Britain because the Industrial Revolution and the raid groth of cities began there. The British thus faced increasing problems with sanitation and overcrowding that lincreased the opportunity for serious disease outbreaks. At the same time modern public health policies began to take shape. Britain set up the National Vaccination Board (1837). Social reformer and lawyer Edwin Chadwick (1800-1890) published his landmark work--"Report on the Inquiry into Sanitary Conditions of the Laboring Population of Great Britain (1842). Chadwick outlined the major public health challenges facing Britain which launched the reform process. While not a scientist or doctor, the central public health administration he championed promoted the �sanitary idea�. The agency assisted local authorities to build drains, sewers, street cleaning and the a range of environmental regulations. These addressed housing, nuisances, and offensive trades. Across the Atlantic, Lemual Shattuck (1793-1859) in Boston released his seminal report on public health (1850). Shattuck outlined the public health needs in the state of Massachusetts which were basically the needs of America writ large. He recommended the establisgment of a state board of health which would be the first in the nation.
A very important United Nations agency is the World Health Organization. The World Health Organization--WHO (Organisation Mondiale de la Sant�) is the U.N. spoecialized health agency. It was established shortly after the U.N. was founded (1948). Its mission was to promote international cooperation for improved public health conditions. Public health is a function that all countries share, but the economic capability to address public issues varies widely. And medical issues and disease pathogens do not recognize national borders. The WHO inherited a range of tasks concerning epidemic control, quarantine measures, and drug standardization from the Health Organization (HO) of the League of Nations which had been established soon after the League was established (1923) and the International Office of Public Health at Paris established earlier (1907). The WHO united these two international efforts and assigned a broad mandate to pursue major internstional health issues. The WHO constitution describes its mission as attaining 'the highest possible level of health' by all peoples. The WHO defines health as 'a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.' The WHO designated World Health Day as April 7, 1948. Many U.N. organizations have come under criticism for a range of problems. The WHO is one of the most respected and least criticise of the U.N. agencies. The administrative headquarters in in Geneva where the League of Nations had been established. The governing WHO body is the World Health Assembly. It meets annually and decides on policy issues. An Executive Board of health specialists elected for 3-year terms by the Assembly. The WHO Secretariat is the personnel which conducts routine operations to implement WHO programs. It is made up of experts, staff, and field workers who work at the Geneva headquarters or at one of the six regional WHO offices and other offices located around the world. The chief executive offucer is the director general nominated by the Executive Board and voted in by the World Health Assembly.
We have a few country pages on public health systms. Until after World War II public health sysems were primarily developed in Europe and North America. This was primarily a question of economic development. These were the countries that could afford publiic health systems. Colonial powers gave only limited ttention to opublic health, but modern medical technology be gan to be introduced. Missionries played an importnt role in that effort. With decokonization more attention began yto be given to public halth system. And the United Nations World Health Orgnization priovided support. The adooption of socialist economic popicies, however, resulted in widespread economic failure hroughout the Third World. This impeded to adequste financing of public health systems. At this time we have only a few country pages, including America, England, China, France, Germany, Indonesia, Israel, Russia, Sweden, and other countries.
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