The document summarizes the history and evolution of public health from ancient times to the present. It outlines key events and figures that helped establish public health practices and institutions, such as early sanitation codes, John Snow's identification of contaminated water as the cause of a cholera outbreak, and the establishment of local boards of health in Massachusetts. The document also describes the shifting phases of public health from disease control and health promotion to a goal of "health for all" established by the World Health Organization in 1981. It defines public health's focus on prevention, community protection, and serving hard-to-reach populations.

1. The History of
Public Health

2. DEFINITION OF HEALTH
• WHO: A state of complete
physical, mental, and social well-
being and not merely the absence
of disease or infirmity. (1948)

3. Definition of Public Health
The science and art of :
1) preventing disease
2) prolonging life and
3) promoting health
and efficiency
through organized
community effort.
(C.E.A.Winslow,1920)

4. DEFINITIONS OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(cont’d)
• To fulfill society’s interest in assuring
conditions in which people can be
healthy (Wisconsin) .
• The field of health science concerned
with safeguarding and improving the
physical, mental and social well-being
of the community as a whole. (1992)

5. Key Events
in the
History of Public Health

6. Roots of Public Health
The account in Leviticus about 1500 B.C.
probably represents the first written health
code in the world.
It dealt with : Cleanliness of the body,
Protection against the spread of contagious
diseases,
Isolation of lepers,
Disinfection of dwellings after illness,
Sanitation of camp sites,
Waste disposal and
Protection of water and food.

7. Roots of Public Health
 During the classical
civilization beginning
around 400 B.C. to
500 A.D., the
Romans placed
much emphasis on
engineering
achievement to
provide safe water
and prevent
disease.

8. Roots of Public Health
 Early Egyptians in
the 13th and 15th
centuries B.C. used
sedimentation
apparatus and wick
siphons, and utilized
alum to remove
suspended solids.

9. Johanna Peter Frank
 He conceived public health as
good health laws enforced by the
police and enunciated the
principle that the state is
responsible for the health of its
people.

10. EDWIN CHADWICK REPORT
 Edwin Chadwick's
report," The Sanitary
Conditions of the
Labouring Population”,
was published in 1842.
In the report Chadwick
argued that disease was
directly related to living
conditions and that there
was a desperate need
for public health reform.

11. Public Health Act
 In 1848 Parliament passed a Public
Health Act that provided for the
formation of a Central Board of Health.
This new body had powers to create
local boards to oversee street
cleansing, refuse collection, water
supply and sewerage systems.
 The Indian Public Health Association
was formed in 1958.

12. John Snow and Cholera
 The science of
epidemiology was
founded by John
Snow's identification of
a polluted public water
well as the cause of an
1854 cholera outbreak
in London.
 Dr. Snow believed in the
germ theory of disease.

13. WILLIAM BUDD
 In 1856, he made
a careful
observation of an
outbreak of
typhoid fever and
concluded that the
spread was by
drinking water.

14. JOHN SIMON
 Sir John Simon was
the first medical
officer of health of
London.
 The system of public
health in England was
set up under his
supervision.

15. Massachusetts and the
Shattuck Report
 1850 review of
sanitation
practices and the
potential for
improving health
status by
enforcement of a
sanitary code led
to creation of local
board of health in
Massachusetts.

16. CHLORINE BOAT
 Chlorine Boat, Green
Lake, 1930s.
 There were constant
problems with pollution
in Green Lake.
Following U.S.
Government strategy,
the Health Department
used a boat equipped
with apparatus for the
application of chlorine
to purify water.

17. Phases of Public Health
 Disease control phase (1880-
1920) : sanitary legislations and
reforms aimed at the control of
man’s physical environment
were made, eg: water supply,
sewage disposal .

18. Phases of Public Health
 Health promotional phase (1920-1960) : public
health departments began their programmes
towards health promotional activities .
A.) Provision of basic health services
was made through health centres
and subcentres .
B.) Community Development Programme
was started to promote village
development through active
participation of the whole community .

19. Phases of Public Health
 Social engineering phase (1960-1980):
social and behavioural aspects of
disease and health were given priority.
Public health expanded to include the
preventive and rehabilitative aspects of
chronic diseases and behavioural
problems.

20. Phases of Public Health
 Health for all phase
(1981-2000AD) : John
Bryant’s book “Health and
the Developing World”
lead to a new awakening
that the health gap
between rich and poor
within countries and
between countries should
be narrowed.

21.  In 1981, the WHO pledged to
provide Health for All by the
year 2000.
 The global strategy of Health
for All was adapted by the 34th
World Health Assembly in
1981.

22. THE CONTENT OF PUBLIC
HEALTH PRACTICE
• Focus on primary prevention.
• Community protection through monitoring
and surveillance for infectious and toxic
agents.
• Response to unanticipated natural and
human-generated disasters.
• Health promotion through programs to
notify and educate the community about
risks and protective measures.
• Target hard-to-reach populations with
clinical services.

23. PUBLIC HEALTH – SUB-
FIELDS
 The population in question can be as
big as a handful of people or, in the
case of a pandemic, whole continents.
Public health has many sub-fields, but is
typically divided into the categories of
epidemiology, biostatistics and health
services. Environmental, social and
behavioral health, and occupational
health, are also important fields in public
health.

24. Public Health Services
 Assessment
 Monitor
 Diagnose and Investigate
 Inform
 Policy
 Mobilize
 Develop
 Enforce
 Assurance
 Link people to
services
 Assure
competent
workforce
 Evaluate
 Research

25. Great Public Health
Achievements of This Century
 Vaccination
 Motor vehicle safety
 Safer workplaces
 Control of infectious
diseases
 Decline in deaths
from coronary heart
disease and stroke
 Safer, healthier food
 Healthier mothers and
babies
 Family planning
 Flouridation of
drinking water
 Recognition of tobacco
as a hazard

26. Thank you